The Philippines

lo'row Il portmlt oWlled by the 'Yale Olnb. New York

WILLIAM H. TAFT CIVIL GOVERlSOR OF THE

PBILIPPIN~

THE PHILIPPINES r THE FIRST CIVIL. GOVERNOR,

BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT ~

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHIUPPINES

BY WILLIAM H. TAFT OIVlI:. GOVERNOR

O:b~

'llB"E PHILIPPINES

DONATED BY AYALA CORPORATION TO FJf..IPINAS FOUNDATION, INC.

NEW 'YORK THE OUTLOOK COMP~~Y 1902

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Copyright, 1902, by THE OUTLOOK CO"PA-"'Y

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THE DEVINNE PRE&8

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PUBLISHERS' NOTE TAFT'S survey I!)£ what has been alh'eady accomplished in the F~ilippililes iII. establishing civil gov ernment is the best pl!)ssibie ~ndicrution of .wbt'mruy be done [n the future in ex,tenruno and cl!)mpleting the work. The importance of a fuilJl kn(i)wledge of aGtnall c(mdlitim}s is apparent; aBd n(i)where have the .facts been stated so £ully and S(i) autliloritarthTely as they al'(~ here by GOVCl'lil«»: Taft, When this rev[ew of the sitnamom was published iill The Ontlo0k (May in, 1902l the GOVERNOiR

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PUBL]SHERS' NOTE

editors of that journal ]ilQinted @ut that it was became they regarded Gelileral Taft as the first expert in the service of the cOlmtry in the affairs of the Philippines that they had askeli!. him to prepare f(i)r tliteh' readers a full survey of what hali!. been accoID'Plisftecl., aNd an outline of the PQIicy which he wishes to have ]ilursued in d.ealing witlit the islands. It is for the same reaS@1il that 1t has seemed well w~.ll-th while to give permanent forrh to this 'history of the laying of th.e founclations of Americalll chri,lization in the Fhilippines.

Th.e qualiities of Julirge TruÂŁt's character alild tlite natu're of his eX]iler1ience which. made him the choice of President McKhilley are adlilihl1l'ably bnmght out in [ 6 ]

PUBLISHERS' N@1!'E

Presidel'lt R,c)Osevelt's pel:sonal sketch of" The First €J~vil GQvenlQr." This charaeteristicaJly direct a~ld. vigotous appreciatiQn was Wl'itten a very few wee~s befQl',e the assassiIlatioIl (i)f Pl'l~s­ idelTht MciKinley, and was first pablished in Tfue Ol[tlo(i)k (')f September 21, 1901.·

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THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR: WILLIAM H. TAFT

BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT P.resident of the United States

THE FIRS'!F CIVIL GOVER.NOR

A YEAR 1 ag@ a man of wide ac(iju_ainta:nce moth with American J!lublic life and American pliblic men remarked that tke first Gov, ernor0ÂŁ tlile F'lli.ilippines ought to c(!)mbine tue quail]ties which wou[d! make a first-class President of the 1 Unitea States with tke qualities wlfiidl w0uld make a nrst-elass Ohief Justice ('){ the Uni,ted States, and thalt the only man he knew who possessed aN these qualities 1 This awtiele W!1-S writte,n fCilr The Outlook iin the summer of 1901! by FrElsident Roosevelt, then Vice-Fre.sident. [ 11 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

was Judge William H. Taft, ofOhi0.

The statement was entirely correct. Few more drfficult tasks have devolved upon any man of our nationality during our century and a quarter of public life than the handling of the Philippine Islands just ~ this time; and it may be d.Qubted whether among men now living anothe'r could be found as well fitted as Ju~ge Taft to d.o this imcredibly difficul't work. Judge Taft belongs to a family which has always done valuable public service. He graduated from Yale in 1878; and a few years la>ter, when Yale gave him the hOl!l.oraJlY degree 0f LL.D., he was the youngest of her graduates upon whom she had ever con[ 12 ]

WILLIAM H. T.A:FT

ÂŁ~lTed this helRor.

On. graduation he to@k lip the study of the law, and al{5o eBt~red actively into puolic life. In b@th. careers he rose steadi~y and rapidly.

Under President Harrison h.e was made SolicitorGeneral of the United States, and .he left this place to become a J udg@ ofthe Urrited Siiates District Oourt.

B'Ut his weiJght in pU!blic life was someÂŁlilirrg e1ilitirely apart ftom. the @ffice he at any tim@ happened to held. [dislike speaking in hYJilerID@le; but [ think that almost all men Wh0 b.a'Ve been: IDl'ol!Jlght in elose contaet, perso1'l.ally and officially, with Jud~le 'Faft ate agr@ed th.at he combines as very, very few men @ver can cClmbine, a standard of [13 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

absolutely unfliNching rectitude 0n every point of public duty, and a literally dauntless courage and willingness to bear responsibility, with a knowledge of meD, and a far -reaching tact and kindliness, which enable his great abilities and high principles to be of use in a way that would be impossible were he no' thus gifted with the capacity to work hand in halnd with hi~ fellows. President McKinley has rendered many great services to his c(;}Untry; and not the least has been the clear-sightedness with which he has chosen the best possible public serv.allts to perform the very di]fieult tasks of acting as the first administrators in the islands [ 14 ]

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WILLIAM H. TAFT

which came into our hands as a result of the Spanish war. Such was the service he rendered when he chose Assistant Secretary of the Navy Allen and afterwards Judge ' Hunt as Governors of Porto Rico; wften he chose General Leonard Wood as Governor-General of Ouba; and fin.ally when he made Judge Taft the first Governor of the Philippines.

Whim. Judge Taft was sent out as the head of the Oommission appointed by the President to inaugurate civil rule i]l the Philippines, 11e was in a position not only of great difficwlty, but of great delicacy. He had to show inflexible strength, and yet capacity to work [ 15 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

heartily with othe'r men and get the best results out of confIicting ideas and interests. The Tagalog insurrection was still under full headway, being kept alive laTgely by the moral aid it received from certain sources in this country . .Any action of the Oommission, no matter how wise and just, was certain to be misrepresented. and. bitted attacked here at home by those who, from whatever reasons, desired! the success of the insurgents. On the other halnd, the regular army, which had done and was doing its work admirably and which is entitled to the heartiest regard and resJilect from every true American, alive, as he should [ 16 ]

WILLIAM H. TAF!]?

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t@ ~ts literalJly mestimable services - was yet, fir(illill irts very natul"(~, not an instrIDl1l.ent fitted f{)r the :ful1..ther devel(i)pment of civil liberty in the islands. Under ordinary circlilllstalJl:ces there W(i):\il.ld have heeIlli immi'lll'ent danger (i)ff'rictio.:n between the military and civil authorities. F(')rtun:ately, we had at tlle head Q)f tl1e W:ar Department in Sea etary ElihM. R(i)Qt a man as th@l'ol[ghly fit for :hisl p(')st as Gov- . ernor 'aft was f(')r llliis. Secretary RQ(Jt was a:dmiThistering his departHlent with. :iLJil eye single to the public .mte'l'ests, ihlis soie desire being t@ get the路 9.es,t possible results for t:he country. Where thes.e 11esults CQuitt IDe @btained by t:he [ 17 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

use of the army, he used it in *e most efficient possible manner aNd mont:h by month, almost day by day, its efficiency increased under his hands. Where he thought the best l'esults could be obtained by the gradual elimination of the army and the substitution of civil goYernment, his sole concern was to see that the substitution was made in the most advantageous ma,nner possible. Neither the Secretary nor the Governor was capable of so much as understanding the pettiness which makes a certain type of (l)fficial, even in high office, desn'e to keep official control of some provrnce of public work, not for the sake of the public work, but [ 18 ]

WILLIAM H. TAFT

flllr the sake (Df the (i)filli.ce. No better object-lesson could be given than has thus been路 given by Secretary Root and Governor Taft of the immense pu.blic benefit resulting, under circumstances of great difficulty and delicacy, from the cordial cooperation of two public servants, whp combine entire disinterestedness with tlh.e high.est standard of capacity.

Governor Taft thus set to work with the two great advantages of the hearty and generQUS support of his superior, the President, and the ungrudging cooperation of the War Department. The difficulties he had to combat were infinite. In the Philippines we were heirs to all [ 19 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

the troubles of Spain, aIDd above all to the inveterate distrust and suspicion which Spanish rule had left in the native mimI. The army alone could put down the 1JnSUTreCtion, and yet, once the insnrrection had been put down, every consideration of humanity and policy required that the function of the al'my should be minimizer as much as possible. Until after the Presidential election in November last peace could not come, because both the insUTgent leaders and then' snpporten; on this side of the water were under the mistaken impression that a continuance of the bloodshed and struggle iID the Philippines would be politically disadvanta[ 20 ]

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g@(i)US to the party in power in the United StaJtes. Soon after the results of the election beoame known in: the Ph.ilippID@S, however, armed resistance collaJpsed. The small hands ]lOW m the field a". e not, properly sp@aki:m.g, insurg(;)nts at aM" but" laru'@]l(!)s," robbm's whose Cl}!leJ!ati('rl1s al'e Jil.0 more political than tb.(i)se of bandits in Oalabria 01'

Gre~c(;).

Th.@ way has thus been cleared for civilrul@ ; a:lil.d astonishing prog. ress ;mas meelil. IJil.a~e. Wh@r@ver possibl(;), Goverll(!)r Taft has been employing n.atives iilil the ptlblic 8(;)1'vice. B@ing a man of the soundest C(i)mm:on seJilse, however, he has not h.esitated to refuse to employ [ 21 ]

'l'l3'E FIRST G[vIL GOVERNOR

natives where, after careful investigation, his deliiberate jlil.dgment is that, for the time being, it is to the advantage @f the natives themselves that Ameri:0aDs shCiluld' administer the position, n0tabiy in certain of the jndgeships and high offices.

FQr the last few months the Filipimls have kn0wn a degree of peace, justice, and prosperity to which they Have me;ver attained in theiL路 whole preW0lil.S hist01路y, and! to w11ieh they colillcl. not have approximated in the r@motest degree had it ]lot been for the AmeTican stay in. the isilands. Under Judge Taft they are gradlil.ally lea;rnmg what it means tQ keep faith, what it means to have public oiffiicials of 11mb ending reciii[ 22 ]

WILLIAM H. TAFT

tude. Under him the islands have seen the begiNnings of a system of good roads, good schools, upright judges, and honest public servants.

His administration throughout has been designed primarily for the benefit of the islancl.ers themselves, and has therefore in the truest and most effective way been in the interest also of the American Republic. Under him the islanders are now taking the first steps along the hard' path which ultimately leads to self-respect and self-government.

That they willl tmvel this road with success to the ultimate goal there can be btlt little d01!lbt, if only our people will make it absolately certain that the policies inaugurated under [ 23 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

P~'eside:nt

McKinley by ,G(Wern(i)l' Taft shall be continued ill the fub1i'e by just such men as GoverntDr Tafit.

There w:i'll be occasional failures, occasiona] shortcomings; and the:n we shall hear the familiar wail of the , men of little faith, 0f little courage.

Here and there the sIl1eldering embers of insurrection will burst agai1!, into brief flare; here and there the measure of self-government granted to a given lQcality ' will have to be .withdrawn 01' diminished because on trial the people do not sh(i)w themselves fit for it; a:nd now ana then we shall meet tlue sudden and unexpected difficulties which are inevitably incident te any effort to dQ good to peoples [ 24 ]

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€l(!)l'!ltainmg s0me saiVa:ge an<'l 11a:]£civiilizeel eilernents. G0vern0l' 'Taft will have t@ meet CJ!isis after crisis; h.e will meet ea€l:h with. COltl'age, c0(9lIiless, stnm:gth, and jilldgment.

It is h.ig'IUy i.mp01·tan1t that we have good la:w;s for the islands. It tis 'hl.~ghly lln]l(!)rta11l!t that these raws p81'!lil!l~t of, the great materrai devel0pmel!l:t of the is~ands. Governor ''Taft :ffi,as m(!)st wisel]" [l'!lSistefl that it is t~ the imlli1!llHll'!lS'e he:m:efiit (!)f the isial'!lG.el'S that great il'!ldillstTial enterprises s:ru'mg iIlTJ iilil the PhrnIippines, al1d 0£ 00Ul'Se S1l0h industria~ en.terprises can (i)n!y spring u~ if plJ10fiit @Qmes t(!) th(i)se who UIildel'take t:lli.em. The mruterial up1ifitil'!lg of the peQ,ple mu.st g(!) to,

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THE FIRST CIVIL 6-0VERNOR

gether with their moral 'Ilplliting.

But though it is important to have wise laws, it is more important that there should be a wise and. honest administration of the laws. The statesmen at home, in Oongress and out of Oongress, can do their best work by following the advice and th 路 lead of the man who is actually on tbe ground. It is therefore essential that this maR should be of the ve~'y highest stamp. If inferior men are appointed, and, above all, if the curse of spoils politics ever fastens itself upon the administration of our insular dependencies, widesJDread ruisaster is sure to follow. Every American w@rthy of the name, every American who [ 26 ]

WILLIAM H. TAFT

is proud of his c@u]1try and jealolis of her honor, should uphold the hands of Governor Taft, and by the . heartiness of his support should give an earnest @f his intention to insist that the high standard set

by Governor Taft shall be accepted for all time hereafter as the standard by which we intend to judge wlloever, under or after Governor Taft, may carry forward th.e work he has so strikingly begun.

Governor Taft left a high office of h(')]1or and of comparative ease to lilldertake his present work.

As soon as he became convinced where his duty lay he did not hesitate a moment, th.oligh he elearly foresaw the infinite labor, the crush[ 27 ]

THE FIRST CIVIL GOVERNOR

ing responsibility, the eertainty of recUTring disappointments, and all the grinding wear and tear which such a task implies. But he gladly undertook it; and he is to be CQnsidered thrice fortunate! Fm' in this world the one thing supremely worth having is the opportunity, cou.pled with. the capacity, to do well and worthily a piece of work the doing of which ~s of vital consequence to the welfare of mankind.

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mVIL G(!)VERNMENT IN 'FHiE PHILIPPINES B짜 WILUAM

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TAF'1'

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OIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

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soon as the American army extended its lines beyond the city of Manila, and brought within its control the various towns of the islands, steps were taken by Genera1- Otis to inaugurate a simple civil municipal government under what were called Orders No. 43.

Thereafter, in the spring of 1900, a eommission anointed by General Otis reported a more extended form of municipal government under General Orders No. 40. But comparatively few towns were or-

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ganized under O1'@e1's No. 40 bef(!)1'e the Commission began to exercise its legislative jUl'isdiction in Sept~mber, 1900. The civil branch of the military government under the CQmmandi1'l.g General was a growth. He exercised both the Legislative and executive power.

He established civil COUl'ts in some six <ill' eight of the pl'ovinces, generally appointing FUipinos to the bench. He appointed foUl' judges of first instance in the city of Manila, and created a Supreme Court, following the organization of the Audiencia 01' Supreme COUl't as it existed under the Spaniards. This COUl't he made up of both Americans and Filipinos, with Chief Jus[ 32 ]

THE B'E GINNINGS OF GIVIL RULE

tice Are'i1a;no, a: Fil'iprno, as tits lH;)ad. The secretaTY to the Military G@vern.or was his chief assistaRt in carryrng on the civil bra:rn,cn of his government, and the legislative work was done tlM:o-ugh. his general (i)rders or by the executive cmders of tl!re President. It was th['ough cme 0f the lattm' that the taritr act was put in force and duties collected IDldel' it. The custorns office wnd t'he (i)f,lices (!)f the '1i'reaSUTer and. t1lâ&#x201A;Źl Auditor '0] th.e islands were esta'IDlli.shed. Under an 6lxec-utive Q1'der of the iJ?}'esident aIi1d the a:p'PQi1il!tment (i)f th6l PostrnasterGenera], a JilOst-<il'fnce was (i)rgal1ized and a Direci(i)r-Genel'al of P<osts began his duties. A Supm'inten[ 33 ]

AYALA L1BRARl

GHTIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PH[LIPPIN'ElS

dent of Sab.(i)@is for the city of Ma;]!lila was app0inie~ and SCl1m1e seko(i)ls were @pe1il:ed there, ÂŁiJ.'St under Father MeKir.mon as Superintendent, and then Ul!l<ileJl Mr. A:.nders011. T.he military go;vernment earlled i1'li(l) reqaisitien the services 0f military officers by detailing them f(in' civil duties. So> mach of the e0l!lliltry was distl!l.rhed by the guerr.illa war at the tjme that tke Qperat\on of the civil branc:hes (i)f the government WHiS e:x;eeemgly limited, and its expenses, by reason (i)f the employme1'li'(i)f detailed -army Qftticers who received n(i) salaries ii'(i):IDJ! the civil funds, me'l'e ~(i)t large. TTh.e Cl[st(i):ms l'eeeipts were considerahle, aNd th~r\iJlgh a gOQd deal of 1!lil.(i)!Iley [ 34 ]

THE BEGiNNINGS OF C~VIL RULE

.

\Mas takeJ!lJ ÂŁi'@m th@ civil funds f@l' pl!ITely ~t!lll'y ~xp@]j}.ses, a: satisfactory bala:n0e r,emamed at the e1ild (!)f th~ Nsca:l yea}', The OCHwrnissi(,H[L iilil tits ]u'(!)blems was ml!l0h aided by what had ibeen. (ilime m&el' the military g(i)'verMl1enlt, Fl'@m Septern~er, 1900', to Jiuly, HUH, the Commanding fie1!lera~ of the Army was cin e:x;ecutive as well. This was a gO(i}d a'l'ra1!lgement, becauf';e tit ike]lt ~;p t:lli.e i'1!ltm'eJb @f the miJIl.: ta'l:'y bl'alll:0h m th(;) deveTo;pm.ent of the !lilil!1!lnici]l!a~ g(!)vernm(;)nrts Uliltil many c~nrld stand arone, and it e1!laiIDled the Gbmmission to se0ure tffi'ough the Eoce@l\tiv(;), dtw'ing the tl'a1!lsititHl ÂŁtorn a rnitiJta;ry t@ a civil regime, the assistau@ (!)f the arrny. ~

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It was, however, no small task for the' Oommission fiFSt to enact legislation necessary to organize and establish the various bureaus and departments, and then to secure competent and faithful civilians to carryon the work of the central government, and to sl!lbstitu:te them for military officers.

The Mth law whicfi was enacted by the Oommission was the civil service law, which is believed to extend the merit system furt:fu.er than it has ever been extended in this country. It is an indispensable conditi(i)n pl'ecede1il.t to any Jilroper civil government in the islands; but it 1il.ecessarily imposed restrictions [ 36 ]

WHE CIVIL SERVICE -PUBLIC WORKS

in the selection of employees, which .have, in some cases, delayed the organization of offices.

The first act passed by the Oommission appropriated one million dollars for the construction and im~rovement of F@ads in the Archipelago. Another early act of the Commission provided for the imJ])l'oVie:ment of th.e .harbm路 w@rks of Manila, and involved an expendi~ ture of three millions of dollars. I shaJil net dwell. up!':)]} the necessity for the construction of roads in the Philippines. In no other respect are the islands, s@ ba@kward as in the lack of interc@mmunication between the towns of the interior. [ 37 ]

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The harbor of Manila at present is not at all satisfacto:ry. A popular impression exists that Manila Bay is small enough to form a :harbor in itself, but this is a great mistake.

The bay is thirty-five miles long by twenty-five miles wide, and opposite tQ Manila is the opening between the Ohina Sea and the bay, sufficiently wide to give free sweep to the sOkthwest monso@n, so that dUTing the wet season, when that monsoon prevails, vessels anchored in the Bay of Manila find it very difficult t@ load @r unload. The Spaniards built part of a breakwater, but very little protection was thus given to shipping. The Pasig River offers a harbor for vessels of sixteen feet [ 38 ]

MUNICIP:A.L GOVERNMENTS

(ih-afi, bUrt it is so cr(wtlea that the demand for more harbor rO(Jill is imperative. It is hoped that the harbor work will be completed in two years, a]ld, with a good harbor a]ld a reductiolil. Qf lanaing charges, the port (i)f Manila will undoubtedly become Qne of the most important in the Orient.

Between September, 1900, and January, 1901, the Oommission enacted other legislation looking t(i)wa:J!d tile better (i)Eganizati(l)ll Q)f the central gQ)vernment burealils and departments . . It had also in prepar3ltion the acts providing for the creation of mlllJicipal and PJWvincia;I gQ)verrune:nts; but uNtil the [ 39 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

election of President McKinley gave the people of the islands to illlderstand whaJt the policy of the United States was to be, the Oommission did !IH)t deem it wise to attempt to carry out its plans for partial se1ÂŁgovernment of the islaJnds. In December, 1900, and January and Fehruary of 1901, full discussion was held at the public sessi(;ms (i)f the Oommission in respect to the provisions of these important (}rganizing acts, and they were made into law in February of tllat year.

The municipal law is drawn on the same general plan as the mlIDicipal codes of this country, and the government is practically autonomous.

The electorate is limited t@ those [ 40 ]

wll.(~ speak ana write eitTh:er Spa1ilish 01' Englis1.t, th@se wh0 pay a tax (j)] 'f!iflee1il dllJ1Jla~s a yea~', (i)r t@ t'D.@se WftllJ hay;e fiNed. munrcii(!lal IlJffices, The p1'0v.N:.tcial goverJilme1ilt is partia11!y au.lbCln@1il!HilUS. Tthe @:fffiice (j)f Qj(j);ver1illlJr is electirve. The GllJverJilOT is a memibe]1(l)f the provimtciallegislafuve @@a'l.'d. His (1.(i)lleagliles em this b(l)ar~ al'e the 'iI\'eaislilll'e'lt an@. SiUperViS01', n@ aTe appoill!lieii1! ilmder the cirl s@il,vice law. 'JJl:fu:e GID'Vern@r' an@. Tl'easmer exercise supervisi01il (l)Wel' the mjllIDl!iei]]la~ crficel's (i)] theil],' IllrC>'V['1ilce. '!rhus far they have been.

AmeFicans. The (l)tlrner provi1ilcia] IlJfillh~el's ar~ tihe lrl'(i)secuting Att(l)l'ny or Wiseaf, and ' the SeCl1enal'y, They lilave Theen iFiTipin(l)s. The ~

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SecretaJry is now sel@cted lrnder the civil service law. The Oommission, which is the legislative body of the central government since the first of September, 1901, has five Am@rican members and thl.'e@ Filipino members, appointed by the President.

Oonditions impr(l)ved so rapidly after the beginning of 1901 that the Oommission felt justified in visiting various provinces to Clrganize pTovincial goW'ernments.

FCHN' months of the time between February, 1901, ana September, 1901, was takeTh up iI'l. establishing thirtyfour provinciall governments. Of these, thirty-three were in provinces [ 42 ]

PRC!>V1N(,)]AL GQVERNMENTS

in which there were none but OhristiaN Fili,piDos. One, the pr0v1nce of Benguet, in the mountains~ contained only Igorrotes or hill tribes.

The g@Yâ&#x201A;Źmnmellit @f Bengu.et was, therefore, of the most paternal character and left most of the power, either by diJrect interven.tioH!. 01' supm'vision, with the Governor. To the other provinces - the Ohristian Filipm@ f!lr@v;jiil1e~s - the general provincial law was maae applicable ' by special acts which were passe~ a:Uter a tl0nfere]!.tle with the leading me]!. of the province, and cONtained provisions varying the general provincial aet to s;ait aifi'eriNg ~(i)cal conditions. [ 43 ]

CIvrL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHIMPPINES

Between the first of January and the first of September, 1901, the Oommission passed a general school iaw, and under this the Superintendent of Public InstrRctio:a, Mr. Atkinson, brought to the islands about one thousand American schoolteachers. The teachers did not reach the islands before August, a:ad were not assigned and transported to their posts much IDefore the first of October. There are aboRt nine hundred towns in the Archipelago, and. these teachers were sent to about :five hundred of them. In additio1!l to the thousand American school-teachers there are about twe:aty-fivehundred Filipino scho01teachers. The chief function of [ 44 ]

SCHOOL.S AND TEACHERS

the .Amel'i0an sch(j)C)I-teache1' is to teach the FiliJilill0 teacher English, and proper methods of teaching, The American school-teachers do, (Df course, teach in the pl'imary sch00is, but the ]lla:m. is that the teaching of the Filipino children shall chiefly be done

by Filipino teacheFs, Normal scftoois Nave beelll! orga1llJize~ in the islands" and manlial training schools. The immense amount of detail required, not only for the establish:rim:ent of sch(!)(i)ls, but for the - :furnishing of a 00m.missary for the school-teachers, will be understood only by those who know the difficulties of transp'o rtation and communicatio:m. "between ManNa amI the [ 45 ]

CIVIL. GOVERNMENT IN THE P;R1LTPPINES

tOW1il.S of the islands, A.mo:ng t:he thousand scho(l)l-teaehers it is not suq;misi11lg that S(l)])!le slaould be f@wnd disp(i)sed to c(i)1il'ilpiarn of the system which. [s being inaugurated, The sch001 sys;t em as a system has reainy been in operation fOF not mOTe than six Ililonths, It W(i)u[(ll The ellliti~ely unjust and [(')Olish, after S(i) short a time, to ]:'eJildeT a fiinal judgIl'\ent as to t:he "tisd@Ilil of the system, weTe it beiilil:g ]JilaugUlFated in a country as we]Ji ada]lted to I'eceive a scho@I system as the UJil.~ted States, Stiilll m(i)re ThIlwise aJild unjust is it £(i)attempt ;/;'0 reach a N[ilia[ conclusiON as tQ its suecessfui (i)Pe1'ati(»ll or othel'wise when a syitem 0f this kiNd is applied! £@ a COlil!lti'y [ 4!6 ]

SCHOOfuS ANLl TEACHERS

o

with StlciID. U'Illilsl!lal (il(i);nditi0111.S as tl1tGse prevailimrg in ,the Ph>iJ'iPJilin~ ls1a'lil.ds. N(!)t £01' lfiv:e Y(llal'S wT11 it ib(ll fail],' t(l) speaik with e(!):mJfi!!iel1ce 0] Mile (llf[e0t aJild the (ll:fieieJil0Y (i)] th6l sdil(i)(!)l system in t.hlil PhiiLinimtes.

06lrtariIDJly, Jil8iIth(ll1' t.h(ll O@mmiss.i(!)ll JilQr t:1r(ll S1!l:per~n1l(llJil:d(llif!llt is likely t@ be dl'iV:lil!(l IrGm a poti0y inaugurated! aItlilr as:thll an mV6lstigati(m as CGlald be !Iilila«(ll, my th(ll gmmMiJilgs and! 0l'itieisms GI employees assign(lliiL ~@ iplr@mces n(i)t S(i) im:fH9rtant as t.hey, think t.Th:eir abilities and c3Ipaciti(lls l"(llq'liJ'm,'e.

Tllte exa,@u attitu<il'e (i)£ the Catln:(l)li0 Oh1lTqn to ~he sch(!)(i)ls !has n(i)t be(lln cl(llady d(llD!ID.elit. It is quit6l [p]J'0:0able jjj.hat ;this will not be th6l [ 47 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

same in some provinces as iB! others.

It is known to vary in this wllntry, according to the views of the priesthood in the partie.ular l@cality, and the same th[]}Ig will be trl!l.e in the Philippines. The Oommission has Rot the slightest objectiOLl. to the s~路ead of church schools, if only a proper staRdard of edl!l.eati(!Hl. [S maintained in them; on the contrary, it welc(')me.s any aid in education. It may he necessary to pass 31 0@mpYls@ry education law when the sclit@ol s:楼stem snaE. 11>e sufficiently enlarged to offer to all children of school age an opportunity for educatiolLl.. At present the diffieulty 0:E prQviding sch(i)Ols for those who are willing to attend is [ 48 ]

SCHOOLS aN]) TEACHERS

so great that compulsory attendance wollid seem to be lmreasonable. However, it should be said that the Oommission is constantly in rectlipt of petiti0ns from t:he val'i(')Us towns (!)f the Archipelago asking that a compulsory education law @e passed. In suc:h a case, of couse, attendance at church schools wouJd satisfy the law, pr(wided a 0uTrieulrun was maintained 00vering certain required subjects. It is veTY important that English be tal[ght :in aU the schools, in Q)raer that the J'le:d generation shall have a comm0n mediwm of communication. TJite Filipinos have very considerable facility in learning languages' and are very anxious to [ 49 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

learil!t En.glish.. A knowledgJil of English, and a consequent familiarity with America:n literature and American newspapers, will furnish to the people a means of 1.IDders'tanding American. civilization and American institutions, and will greatly assist in teaching them se1ÂŁgoÂĽernment on Anglo-Saxon 1in.es.

One necessary addition to th.e sCRool system is the establishment of school of secondary instruction, and probably a unL'Versity. The primary schools teach English.

There are some Filipinos in each town, however, who will desire their children to have an academic eQucation, and unless we fumish. secondary schools, in which ENglish [ 50 ]

THE JT!T'[ !)!CURY

shall be the language taught, we shall d~sapJ!l(!Jiil1t the legitimate ambition and aspimtic)ll of sutlh parents. In other words, a primary system ita English requires a secondary and probably university instruction in the same language.

The step next most important to the beginning of a school system ~:IIl! the !islands has beeli th@ organizati(!)ll of a judiciary. An impar-r tial administration of Justice is what bas been m0st lacking ita Philippine civilization, and tile Oommission has th(llUght it wise that a judiciary sb.ocl.d be established in which American judges should be in the majority. The whole Archipelago PIll

CIVIL

Q@;YEIRNME'N~

IN <l'HE

~IH'L'I 'PFINES

has lH~en divilileG. liEl!t0 fIi£teen juG.icial districts, in each of wll.i€lh there is a court @f fi['st i'IiJ.stance wirt.h a geil'l!eral dvil' and criminal j1ITisd;iction like that of tllre @],d..inary C@llli!llon pleas C0UFt in this C0l1l1Ltry,. A justice of the pea€le with j·wrisdieti0I>1 like that of @ur ju.stices (!)f the peace is aij!lpIDinlted tin each t (l)'WlI1I., 3J'liJ.G. aneal from ' .his decision t(!) the C<lH!I.:rts (i)f fillrst rnstanc(il :is ipm;v1.liled. A Supreme Court (!)f seiV'(ill!!: memID81's, with appellate. jiU!l'isdictiolil over the judgments of ~he C01Uts of IDirsi il'l!stance, has lHllen cTeated t(!) sit at Manila, ll0il'O, and OeIDN. I'IiJ. the S-upreme Oom·t fom Amer[cams a'IiJ.lil thi'ee Filip]Jil.0S sit, anlil a~:Hin]<t (;Jne £1il.il'<il of the jil!ldges 0f fi['st imstalll.ce IT

52 ]

\I'BiE JUD:I etAR¥

are FlJiiprn(i)s. IE. tue large eities, ]lll whiic:h t:fuere [s irn~ely to il!>e htiga,ti@1il! ibetWVleelll f(i)reigiJllers @l' Americans allld Fiilipius, American j1!l:Qges hav.e lilsually "been selected. r:his is ([(i)ne in (ill1Qm' tQ aW(i)id. t:he neeessity £01' a so-caliled. United 8tates OQUiJ,U to which Amer~eans alll® £@reig'lilets may ea~'Fy tliJ.eil' cases. As 1iril1!l:cih ea~'e as possible has been used. i]JJ thel selecti@lll of t1rre jlildges, ,anm ~ f@ell @(j)lllilii@J~]JJt 17hat weihaVi8 ]'Jil:;:tU'gl!ll'aJtem a -sy&tem ill whicJh j'l!lstice will!1)e done, allld the - illlestimable ~e1il!ent wiN De C(i)]l ferred It]l(!)Jil: t1rre pe(i)[ple (!)£ s:h(iHw;mg them what jlilsti@f;l is. We have ce~'tailliy s'l!lceeed'ed in seelil!l'i!l1g the "piek" of ~he FiiLipilll(i) [awyers for p3 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

the bench, and the American judges have sh.@W? themselves to be men thoroughly in earnest in their work and greatly interested in maintaining a high standard f(l)r the COUTtS.

As an aid in. the administrati6ln of justice and the maintenance of law and order, il'1 addition to the local police, it has oeen necessary to establish an insular constabulary. This consists (l)f not more than one hundred and fifty men in each province, under inspectors partly American and partly Filipino. Ladronism was very widely extended under the Spanish rule, and there was organized under the [ 54 ]

P0LICE AND e ONSTAi3ULARY

government what was called the guardia civil, hut the ('mtrages . a:m.e. abuses of the guardia civil were almost equal to those comID~tted by th.e larut(i)nes.

I am glad to say that thus far the operation of the constabulaFY system has bee:m. m@st satisfactory, a:m.cli lactr@nism is rapidly disappearing.

The selection of men for its ranks has hE1)en. very carefu1!ly made. The system of selecting only residents of the pnwince for service in the }l)1'(i)vl!'Iilce avoids the manger of ahuse and looting by the members of the constabulary themselves. In a force @l s@me Rve thoasand men there have been reported but three desertions. The constabulary costs the [55 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

PhiIiplPine Go'V'erIl1!l!l:ent $250 a man a year, on the average.

During the period between January and. September of 1901 the Oommission adopted, with the assistance of the War Department, a new tariff which reversed the principle of the Spanish tariff by imposing a higher d.uty wpon luxuries than upon necessaries, and by reducing the duty upon fo(:)dstuffs, canned goods, and other necessaries, from a prohibitory rate tQ an. ad valorem tax of about fifteen per cent. The average rate of the whole tariff路 sehedule is an ad valemem auty: gf 拢rmn twenty-Eive to thirty per cent. The customs de[ 56 ]

TARIFF-FORESTRY-POSTAL SYSTEM

paFtmen.it had te> @@ iloeâ&#x201A;Źll'ganized, aNd a custGms administrative bill was passed in November, 1900, adoptrug largely the American system @f appraisement aNd c0llectiemo 'rhe BUTeau (Df Forestry, which has umler its protetltiGn one of the largest sources of wealth in the islads, in tae last year has been ill'lilch exteNded and !ErH!)re (l,(!)]lilpietely organized, so that it now has its agents in every province of the isllands t@ collect the timber license fees aNd t(i) see to it that the f010ests awe not injUiloed by tIm c'l!ltting permitted.

The Post-OfJice is being extended gradually, @ut it is ne>t by any means as eBicie:nt as it 0ught t'1 @e. [ 57]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN TH'E PHIMPPINES

ThEil cliiieulties @f c01il1mlIDieati@n aire very g,reat. 'The C@mm~ssiID]t has cl!mtraetecl for tne construction of twen.ty small sea-g(i)i1!lg vessels with wnich it is hoped that the mails can "be carried and a reViell1Ue p01ice system maintain.ed, and tRat the pr{)"V'i'lleial officialls may hEil tr.anspo:ded "betweeN. the various tOW1ilS of their provinee, and. that frequent cCHl!lm'unieation may 'nus be had "fuetween \ he capitals of promees and Manila. But these vessels -will not all be ready fIDr serV'ice befo~路e 1iled year. UN.der the present system it s(i)metitmes takes m@re time u@ reach tae capitals (i)] S'@J!l1l.e of the more renll@te jpT(,)W1!lCeS frIDm Manila tha1!l it ff(i)eS t(i) g0 tID San Fta'lltcise(i). [ 58 ]

HEALTH-AGRICULTURE-SURVEYS

The (JommlssioN 1tas organized a complete health department under the central government, which cooperates with local health officials.

This i{l esseNtial both in t1te protection Qf the people of the islands ÂŁrom epidemics (!)f smallpox, cholera, aNd plague, and in stamping out contagious diseases of cattle aNd ftorses.

A ve1'Y heavy (3:q!le:r;tse has been th["own. U!p(!)n the central government in. its attempts to keep thech(!)lera now existing in the islands n~om. s'Prea:cii~llg. .An agricultural bureau has been organi~ed, the imp(!)rtance of which in devel@ping J!lroper methods of agricu,1t"1lL1'e lLlJthese ~sla'El.ds, and supersedmg the uselessly clumsy maoo.er [ 59 ]

ClVIlli GcOVERNMlEN'l' IN THE, PB!]]',1!PPINES

in wkicllt tlr0pS an"l SQ)Wll and reaped, cannot be (!)Ye1's,tatetil. SQ)me (!)f th.e m0st eXIJ'8rt scientists @f tke Agri0w.ltl[i).'al De]>artmemt (!)f Waskingt@n have been brought to the islands, aJiJlld it is h(i)ped that ill the C0U1tSe of 'three or f<!lUI' years marked im.provement in agricillttlral met.m.(6)ds may IDe made thr(i)1!lgh. the ]iJllsiirl!lmentality of :m0de~1 ~arIDs and dti}'etlt mstruetTC)]). ~J agI'icWLt'tUral

sch(!)Q)l~.

Until Oongress acts, the sl!ll'vey amil sale of ]>l!l~1Jli:c ~ands and m.mting rights will Jlll'obably be h.eld ~n aibeymID.ce~ hU!t as the bil!l fen' t~e civil g(i)",erl!JJil'ilenit Q)f t.m.e p'.m.ilisj!IIPi!l'!1:es is likely tQ) pass befQ)~e the d(i)se (!If th.is sessio)Iil 0] 00Jll.gress, it is ce1'[ 60

il

INC0ME AND EXPENDITURE

tam t:hat taese two bUJl'ealilS must be very m.uch enlarged, Of course a very comprehensive and extensive system (!)f sUTveys is absolutely necessary to tTh:e pr<!fper application (j)f any public' land (ill' ]!lublic mining system, and this will have tg be begun at once. The civil government is almost wh(ilily <ilependent on recei:p~s from. ClilStO:m.S f(in' i~s rncome.

It will. be a serious question whether the government as planned can be calTied on without a deficit if business and! tal3 reVienliles d(!) liI.ot rncrease. If the revenues do not increase, it will be :necessary for the Cemmissio1'!l to econgm.ize by delayiug tae exe(mtioJ!l 0f 8(!)J!l!le (il] its plans aJ!lfl by !I:adica[ retrenclitmel1lt. Tae [ 61 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN TiRE PHILIPPINES

cost of the school system is heavy, and iiril al1l)]tObahil~ty will increase.

The necessity for more teachers and the erection of permanent school buildings is immediate.

I think I have outlined the plans of the 00ll1l.IDissi~)J;1. with respect to the central government bureaus sufficiently to show that a good deal of II!I.(ilney wiN IDe n'eed€d to carry them (imt. In addition to what I have said, the Philippine Government ought to make a c0mprehensive exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition to be held at St. Louis in 1904, and it was hoped that half a million dollars might be appropriated for this purpose; IDut [ 62 ]

DlFF]â&#x201A;Ź U1lT[ES @V<E RGJ0ME

tihe O(i)mmissi(i):n !has de@ided that it Caliillil(i)t e:ntel' ~iJjl!t(i) a:n @1Jiigati1:(i)N t(i) 'Pay emt that mu,cN ]l'1(i)]J.ey un:ti~ furthel' time has jfueen giveN U(i) G.etermimle wihat i7~e timl(i)Il1l.e-pr(i)till!lcing capa@ity t)f !the ]lresent taliff law is, 'Flite Wi(i)rk (i)f the Oennmlssi(i)n has iIDee]j)J hard an~ exacti,lThg. The liLifficrnlty of seleet~1il:g @GIDpetent (i)fffiicers t(i) act as heads ([)f bureaus a'lild aepal':tmeNts eight .j;~(i):t!lsa:nd niil~s away [rom tlie U!l!l!tte.~ States will! be appreciated. 'The G.tidi(m1ty (i)f selectmg Fi!liipm(i)s [(i)l' imp(i)]ltant offices w1rer~ fa@ ti:(!lli1 aN<iJI prejuQtice aNd ])ellso1ilal am~iti:o:n playa very' decililed J!!aJl't @alTh be illldem:;t(i)(i)ÂŤlI!. The g:pea1\ lab(i)l' neeaced in tb.e preparation G] the laws, an examiml'ation of [ 63 ]

CIVIL GQVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

the acts of the O(i)]nrnissi('rJ:1 will show. One of the heaviest labors has been the preparation and enactment of a c(')de of â&#x201A;Źlivil procedure.

The â&#x201A;Źl(')de foll(')ws geura:lly the codes ofth.e American States. The Spanish code of procedure was so full of technicalities as practically to deny ju tice tQ the litigant, aNa the Filipino par were unanimous in a: demand for a change. Judge Ide has drafted the code, and I believe that American lawyers who consuJt it "vill testify t(') the eKceilence (!)f his work. The old Spanish criminall code was continued by General Otis, with necessary mQdifications, as weN as t.he m:iminall code @l praetice. A new code of practice and [ 64 ]

THE TREASON ANI!) SEDITION LAWS

of crimes has now heelil ipretPla['ed by GeIil:erarl Wright, and only awaits enactment when the three lawyers of tbe Oommission can meet together again. . Tae OGmm.issi(i)u, Ulilder its mstrllcticJn.s, has not attempted to change the substantive law (i)fthe islands so far as it affects the c(!)rFeiative righ.ts and duties of illdii\V'iduals. It is tae civil law, alild <!pes not differ very materially :/i. om the Oode Napoleon. It is a good system of law, and there is no reason t(i) caange it.

When the tariff hill enacted into law by Congress was bef0re the Senate, there was severe criticism of t'he OOllil.!1'lil.ission f(i)r passing wlocat [ 65 ]

CiVIL (HDVERNMENT lI N THE P:lULEPPINES

w@re kn(i)wn as t:he tl'eaSClDl a'l!ld sedti:ti@'I!l laws. So far as t'htis @l1ti.ticism rela;ted to se@ti(i)]ls wruclfu. were taken b(l)Qily ft'Ol!lil! the :Revised Statu,tes of tie {]imned S'tartes, aNd had. beeR m t:h(i)se statutes for O11l.e hUllil.dred years, :Ii hardly th.'IDk it necessary t(i) say alilythiil1lg. .it se@ti(l)]ll was taken from the Si{!la11l.~h laws which in e:/[@@t, t:hou.~h R(9t i'l!l langnage, was like a se@ticrn of the URited States Revised Statutes providi11l.g f0r the ]looismeJilit of c(i)]lspirac!)l OJili t:he JjJa;'I!'t @] two (9Y more pers(ms t(l) de];ll'tive ane>u:her of rights secmed to hm by the ConstitllLti@R (9f the, "{iJi!li1]ted States.

A:EH)ther sMtion (i)f the act was a1most a ltitel~al" @@py of a 'emllessee 'ff 66 ]

THE TREASON AND SEDITION LAWS

statute demmncing sedition. Anoilher section f(i)rbade the (i)rganization.(i)f secret political societies, and another forbade the advocacy of independence pending the war either by peaceable or by forcible means.

TNt) latter sectiom was hy its terms merely a war measure, and to a certain extent suspentled Free speech.

As peace is now likely to be officially decIaretl at any time, it hardly ]leeds further comment than to say that it was eNacted, not to prevent the sincere advocacy (ilf independ.ence by peaceaNe means, th@UgN it had s1'l.c1 an effect tempOTarily, but really to prevent the encouragement of men in arms against the sovereignty of the [ 67 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

United States, by an advo~acy of inde}!>81!laenCe, eithe11 with n@ limitation or with a mere pretense of limiting the advocacy to peaceable means. MemDe11s 0f the Insurgent Junta began to move toward Manila, with the apparent impression that the establishment of civil govermnent in Manila would allow them free scope for their political agitation. The section den(!)uIlcing secret political societies was adopted for the same prnpose as the section just discussed, and, while not expressly limited to the pendency of war, may be regarded as war legislation. The secti0n against sedition was, as I have said, copied from a Tennessee statute, all.d was [ 68 ]

THE TREASON AND SEDITION LAWS

intended t@ seCUl'e the pliblic welfare against articles intended to distID'b the peace by gross 1i IDeis upon the government or upon any class of people. 'There is IlQthing in the privilege of free speech or a free press that renders immune from pl'osecution those guilty of misrepresentation 01' libel. The c(!mditions prevailing imJ. the Philippines make the pa.~sage of such a law necessary.

There a'De in the c~ty (Df Manila American papers ow:n.ed and edited

by Americans who have the bitterest feeling toward the Filipinos, and entertain the view tha.t legislatiQn for the benefit of the Filipinos @r appointment to office of Fi1lpinos is evidence @f a lack of [ 69 ]

c~vm

G,OVERNMiENT IN THE PHmriPprN]J}S

loya1ty t(!) the Am@ricams wh(i) haVi@ com.e to settle in th.e [Si3Jlilds. A.cc(i)l'dingly, they write tne 1!l1(i)St SCrnt'}'U@lilS al!ticles mpeacdllmg the honesty of tie lW~li!lif)jl(') (trfillic:ia~s, ~he F~1ipi!l!l.o ju.clges, and the w:h(i)le Fi1iJPino pe0]?le, alS a basis £01' attacking ~he pe>Licy (!)f the C(i)mID[SSl(OiJl. The edit0r 0f tne "Freed0lil'1" has lileel'l pr0sec'l!l!ted lllclr@r ' S · CtWlil ' £01' pHllU1.]j1 1:.: ' t hIS . ;$illIil!g an artIcle which is described by GeJilerail W rigM, the Actill!g C[vi~ G@'V@r!l!l.or of tllte Phid:ippi!lil:e Islands, as f01loWS: The editor of the "Freed(iHl1l" has @een pl~0Qeedetil rugainst (i)1il! aCG(j)lIDnt (i)f a lengthyedirt0riaJl attacking cin govm'lllIDeIil!t illl geLHH'a;l alld Filiplll(i) peopie m particular, ehal'ging t1iJ.3Jt C(i)l!l1J.IrhlS[ 70 ]

THE TREASON AND SEDITION E.AWS

sion constitute a proteet@r3Jte o짜er set of men who sh@uld be in jail or deported, that they were all knaves and 'hyp@el'ites. Referred tQ Valdes libel as showing Tavera .coward and rascal, Legarda unworthy t@ assoeiate with respectable people, 3Jnd attacked American Oommissioners for recommending them and permitting them remailL members. Oh3Jrges Filipino judiciary not@ri@usly CQuupt and tmwilling to c0nvicJ; Filipinos.

Denominate all Filipin0 offieials rascally natives, rogues, not@ri@usly c@n'upt and IDen , of no character. Manifest purpose to stir up race hatred and e~pecially make odious and contemptible Filipino members of Oommission 3Jnd Filipino 0fficials generaHy, and create breach between Filipinos and Americans, thereby disturbing the peace of the community. [ 71 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

In a country like the UJi}ited States such an article would not cause any particular trouble, but in the Philippines it is at once translated ~nto Spanish and into Tagalog and is used for the purpose of stirring up race hatred; and this was probably the purpose for which it wa:s w;r~tten. The paper iill which the article appeared has always advocated great severity in dealing with the Filipinos, an.d has done everything to avoid the establishment (i)f g@od-feeling w.hich ought to exist between the Filipino people and those Americans who a:re in the is[ands. The editor of the " Freedom " has the (irpp01ttllliilfiy to prove, if he can, in. his defense, the corruption which he charges, but [ 72 ]

THE TREASON AN]!) SEJiH'Tl@N LAWS

if it ttlil'itlS Olit that 'his chaloges are umliHIJil&llld, I think ,he ought to be JlIDl!ishe&, al1Id that !liti.s JllIDisih1lllelil.,t wIn !ID.ot ilJlll in v.iolatiolil. (i)f any right U(l) !Weill s:wee~h. I!ID. a 00Uffi1try like thlll Un~te& States i,t [s wiser ]lot to de1!Hi)1l1llae mail1Y acts as oi'e:nses agamst the law whi0h might properly be <ile:El(im:n~e.d as sU0h, because theil ew efflllc£ is negligible ilil. this ~OI~lan.!Uo]):ity; but S'llch acts in a c~:uIJiltry liitlll th~ ]>hilipJ91Res, under thlll pe0u.1iar c(!)llditions tllerlll plteVammg, may @e elX!ceedi'tlgly LRjU!ri(')us t(') the pHibl!i~ peace, alit&' may pmJilerl~ ~alll f@l' a statutory denuutliatiIDR of them wtith@'Ut impaNoing a1'lY (')f the l°j:ghts descri®lll<il iril t1:ie biN of rights.

[13 ]

C~VIL

G@VEiRNMENT ]N THE PH,rLIPPINES

The p)(~IDJ!lle (j)f the Arc.hiJ!lelag@ al'e divided r@il1ghly irn:tQ six a:m.riJI IDJile half million Oh!liistia:m. Filipi11l@s, one million and a half Mi0r(j)s (!)r M0hammedans, and one mi'lilion 0ther un-Ohristian trtr@es, kn0W11l usually as hilt tribes. 'F.he iU.Sl!l.Trection has "bee11l mamtai~e<il! 01'l.ly by the Ohristian Filip:i.11l0S. Neither t.he .hill tribes 1i1or the MIDr0s tQok aillY pa;rt in it. Tlle 0]n'rstia:n FiJJi:pinos are the ('):miy '(ileoJ!l~e 01 the islands w.ho haV'~ tfte sLig:bttest C0Iitception of poplrlar g@vernment.

'The present @onditioR afthe Christia::m. Fillipino provinces is that 0] peace. WheE.]i left the islands in Decem"ber, ~!90 1, there was IDsm'rectic)ll 01hlY in the pr@'V~Ilees (i)f [ 74 ]

THE RESISTANCE 0]1 THE FILIPINOS

Batangas, Laguna, Samar, Tayabas, alld s@rne Little in Mind.oro. It was also claimed that there was S(i)me insurrection in the province @f Misamis, th.ough it seemed te> me that it was more of a ladrone distm'l>anee th.an (!)lle of the surrectos. However that may be, the faet .is now that all f@rces in arms in Batangas, Tayabas, LagllI\a, Sam.ar, Mindoro, and Misamis Have sunender~d, and the.ir rifles have oeen delivered up to the milital'Y alilth@rities. These provinc€s are ripe f(i)l' the establishment (\)£ ci'Vil gQ'VIer!B.rment, amI it is probal>le that within two months tlite pTovincial governmellts in those prOVInces will have been €stab-

m-

[ 75 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE

iPB]~IPPINiES

lished. 1 When. t:lli.is is d0I!le, a'hl the Ohristian Filipi;n(j) provlnees to whioh the provincial law ca'ID: De ]lractically applie.a will enjoy pea.ce and civil goverilllment. T.here are two pr0:vinces @lil the Pacifio coast kn([lwu as Infanta and Principe, in which t.he pO]lruation does lilOt e;xceed ten or fifteelil thousand, which ai'e S(O) sparsely settled that a special form of g(')nrnme11lt 1p!l!lst ;me given. t]jH~m, and , the same l1hing is ttue of the Oalamia:n.es groli]l iID. t.he Jolo Sea. There are ladrones in the On July 4,1902, iess than t:w:o months from the time when this was w.rifiten, FFesident Roosevelt was able to precl3lim that civil geve:rnment was established everywhere iJ;I the Phi'liplDines e-xeeJDt in the territ0ry occupied oy the M0F0S. 3Illd to issue 311s0 a procla.ma.tion ef geneFail amnesty.1

THE PUBLISHiElRS.

[ 76 ]

THE tRESIS'IIAN(j)'E OF THE FliMPINOS

J!m(i)~ee

(i)f Leyte whCl are beilillg rapidly dispersed, captlil!red, (i)l' killed. %y t:he e<;J:mstabwary" a'Illd !ti:he same thmg is tme 0f 'Negl'(i)S, Jin Ne,gl'(i)s thel,-e ]l.ev;e:r has bee]}; i]l.slNTeetion, but the impassable ID.01l!lllitall!1.S a~d f(i)l'ests w:fu,ich. funp. the S]!m.e (!)f the island 'have atways (i),f[e:red reflilge t@ a ID0UJllitam }!le@;p>le wh.(i) haV'e made a [Rlrofession of cattle-lifting and! ~~a~k1ilil.a]lillu.g, Th.e lti@h :hacieIilQla-0wnaeEs 0f the plailils (i)f eas路tel~Iil , and. wesnem :Niegr(i)'S have always sw.f[e1'e(jl nm])} this evil. ]rt is the PThl!p(i)Se 0l u:he UO.l!l.!hl!lilissi(i)l\1 to eradicai\e it, hhlit the lardr(i)ues are S(i) TIlilmelt(9lilS a)]l.di tihe di'f:icuiJ!tie.S (i)f cam'Waigili1mg S(i) g~'eat that it wiilll take a c@Tl.siaerable time.

T:he lili1illi.c'lilHy wit:h the Lake LaIT 77 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHI;fu[PP]NES

nao Moros, the wild Moros of Mindanao' has no more to do with the insurrection than did Indian fights on the plains or in Minnesota have to d@ with the Oivil Wai'. Wirth the establishment of civil government in the near,future, therefore, @ver rulJ. the six million of Ohristian Filipinos, the difficulties inherent in the aual form of control by the military 'and the civil dttthoT~ties will be eliminated. The army will be GonceI1trated in a cornparati,vely few garrisoned p@st~ separated frGm the towns, and stricter discipline will be mU'ch easier te> maintain when the troops cease to be qual'tered! on the peopht. When the troops are withdrawn to separate posts and the [ 78 ]

THE PE@,PJ1E AND THE CiiVm G@'V ERNMENT

pe(!):ple see tlaero lb:u~ (i)ccasi(i)]i}'aNy, th.ey w]]1 ®(ll mllelTh m(!)l'(ll C@'liIJV[mI.Ce'liIJ of tJi(ll !I1(lla~ TJ(!)W(llr @f civiil g(i)~er1i1m@1l1t am:d !I1iil.itleh. iI1l!l(i)re saiisnem: (i):f t1te 1>e1il.(ll¥(!)lerrL :i.l!l:t(ll]Lti0]lS (i)f th.e America]l aut:lli.(i)T~ties, Ullld(llr (i)rders which 'ha:;ve ][0W he(lllilJ iss;ued by the Wal' Depa:l'tmut,t'he .America~ iti~Q(!)PS wlM lh>e ired'llQ,(lld to a fClrce (i)] (llig:hte(lllilJ tifu.@!lsa:llld!J!}1u as S@(i)]l \. as th.e ~{fV(llr~(ll:m:t tra:'Iilsp(i)rts ca'!il €l(i)Hl!p];x- -Mth th:(ll or~eI's, 'Fh(lll'(ll has be(ll]l a ,g(ll1!leral ite1!lde]lcy ,amQ]lg' tlite millital'Y @fID.c(llrs t@ [~e­ ga:iJ.1d €lim ~(i)V'(llrEID.e]lt as a faill!lin~, a'lillill ~his view Ihas beelll il.'(llfite@ted b~ tn.(!)se c(i)r1'esp(!)llldelllts wh,@ 1tave lh>e(lllil! Mth: the army a'l!l([ h.ave [m[ 79

n

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

bibed the opini(')lI. of the army messes and the Army and Navy Club in Manila; but a better acquaintan(;le with the actual governments shows tllese criticisms to be unfouncl:ed. The civil. provincial governments and the municipal governmel!l.ts are going concerns, having def€l@ts in their ClperatiClll. it is true, bu.t nevertheless ftn·I!lishil!l.g t(') the peClple who are subject to their respective jurisdictions a protection to life, liberty, and property, an ClpIl@rtunity to o1>tain jlistice througTh. the courts, education for their chilli'en in the scho(')ls, and the right tCl purslie their usual vocatioll.s.

The s'l!lggestion that mthe s0-ca]l1ecl! pacified provinces insurrection IS [ 80 ]

THE PEO,P LE AND THE OIVIL GOVERNMENT

still seething is wholly unfounded.

The pe(i)ple are eRgruged in their 01'drnary occupati(i)ns, and while they have been much injured by the loss of thei~' aattle thrclUgh the rinderpest, they are stl'uggling with this difficulty aNd are raising rice in sufncie]lt qlla]l,tities to avoid a famine. ~n examinati(!)n of the al'lnual rep@rt:;; of the governors of the diffm'ent proviRces con;tatined in the printecl. evidence bef(i)re the Senate Oommittee will support this statemel'l4i. Taxes are ;being eol!lected in the proiVinces, the processes of tlle comt run withol'lt obstruction, and th.e Febn.ary elections of govemors were held without disturbance, aNd, on the whole, satisfacp'l!]

CIV1L G,O'VEI&NM!!ENT iN THE PH-]MPPINES

tgry candidates were selected. The Ohristian Filipino pegple are n0W enjoying greater individaal liberty and a greater voice in their government than ever bef0re in tleil' history, and with the official declaration of peace now near at hand, b())1Yh will be increaseâ&#x201A;Źl. M1[ch h.as been said in the heat of debate and of partisan journalism concerning the fesling of hatred Q~ the Filipinos toward the Americans. So far as the civil government is concerned, ng snch feeljrng exists. The Com_ mission visited forty provinces and districts of the islands in the period between the first '(j)f Februa1'y ana the first of September, 1901, and 0ccapied in all about four months [ S2 ]

THE PEOPLE AND THE ARMY

in its trip. The receptions given it by the educated ana ignorant people alike, and the (mthusiastic welc(i)]ne which it received, all convimwed the Oommission that the people were friendly to civil government Ililild ear'hlestly desired its establishmelilt. They have taken great interest in tke civil. governmelilt since, and nothing has ocemred to change the deep impression made upon the Gommission by tke good feeling manifested and ex[pressmlilS of gratitude reeeived on this trip.

The feeling of the people toward the a:rmy is different. In' some places it is friendly and in others [ 83 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE I?HIMPPfNES

irt is h(!)stile, and. it is f(!)lffiI1(~: clhieillliy to varr:y with the cilisp>Q)sitio1'll ())拢 th.e c@JiBilIi3J:m.diIl1g (i):f[icer (i)f th.e post iiliL tke ])jeighID())rhoID.IiII. If he ]Je aID1Nlrpt, arbitrary, aRd slilrly in his treatmelilt 0f tke p>eQ)ple, they de> not like him. If Jnie is ilrrtel'ested! iHru t:heilli' welfal'e, is kin:a~y aRd p(!)lite maeal i:m:g with them, they d0 like him.

Tow-aiI'd the civil go'Verll!1il1lelilt, !h(!)Wever, h.ich has alwdys f(i)lJ.owea the p(i)1icy of" attraction," as it is tlalled in t~e islanas, mdeaug witb the pe(i)ple; their atWmae is a])j ellti1rely :lirie1!ldly one. It is quite Jitatm:al t:hat it sn(i)Nid be. It was t1n路(!).l]lgh the COI1il.i~g of the (,)~~l o(i)lil1l!illissi(!)R that the rigo1' of mil~tai)!y '1!JID1:e was s0fteliledi aIDa [路em@iV>ed. It is [34 ]

itlM·0ugh. fire~ueD!t ~ilil:tel'cession oj) ~he civi au>tll(i)l'~ties that mi~tml'Y pl'is(i)l!lers iha;v;e %een re~ea:sed, a'lild tihe pe0;(lle aiJ.le w~l!l aware that in iY.fu.e c(!)'ID1iIicts Q)f jil!tl\' isdiati(l)l!} IDetweeN tll(!) civil ~(l)V'erl!l.!J1role]];t aNd the milital'Y g0'V'eJlIDIJil!l@1ll!U, 0f waich. thm'e have 'been a nf{~!illjber, th.e ciViil go;vel'l:'l1illle]1~ was seei[{ing :to save tliLe Fi11pi:n0S :000m lliliiLi,ta'l'Y arrest and prClsecu.ti(!)l!I. I ~t

is ~@(i) mllw<hL tQ) say t'hat the G@mmissi(l)Jll has d(l)ID@ al!l itha't caID !be d(l)Ne iliIJE.d.el· its preseNt ]l(!)w:ers, betlause €Il(!)ubtless t1tel'e is much iiJ'il tfhe way @f pel'FeliltiIitg tfhe ]>resent pr(i)riN:cia~ and l!llliml'rciI!la] g(!)¥er1!1meats that tloru€ll (l)ccu:n>Y its tiNl'@ [ 85 j

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

and attention profitably; but it is true that the time has now come when improvement in present conditions can "be best brought about by the passage of a bill "by OO'lil.gTess for the governmeNt of the Philippine Islands. 1 There are two bills pending - lime in the Senate and ORe rn the House.

Both bills embody the wise policy of not disturbing tHe present system of government, which has proved satisfactory.

The principle has been fo1l0wed, so Since tllis was written, Congress has passed, and the PFesident has signed, a Philippine Act which agrees in many points with the suggestions here made by Governor Taft, but differs in some par- . ticulars. A popu'lal'legislative assembly is to be ol'ga~izec1 two years a.fteF a census provided for by the act is b ken; the only restriction on the suffrage in the election of ,members is that the 1

[ 86 ]

OONGRESSI0NAL ACTION

WBll Bstabl:ished lin Angl@-Saxom. g0verIilID.ent-building, of taking what is in existence a:n.d improving and add~:n.g to it. The SenatB bill diJ;l<g}'s fir@ID the House bill, howeVBr, [ill several matBl'ial respects.

ThB H(i)Use bill provides that after peace shall be declared, and after a census shall have been taken, the CClI'ril.!Bil.[ssi(j)]l sihal!l0al!l a general electi@n for the sBlection of representatives to form a pClpular assembly, which shall constitllte (me branch :l[oteFs must be either pFQ]!lerty -@w>ners or a,ble to speak Spanish or English. ¡ 1)he matter of coinage is left untouched by the act, so that the present laws continue in force. The act provides for grants of public lands to corporations, but not over twentyJfive hundred acres can be gFanted 60 one corporati0n, and tbere alie other restricti@ns up@n the gFants.-1)HE PUllLISHERS . â&#x20AC;˘ [ 87 ]

of tlle il@gis~atm'@ (i)f the [s[a11lds, the OommissiQE. to c(i)nstitut@ t.he Qtiher lmaIloh. TEte R(;)use bill tUm:thelt ]!>f@vides f@i' the selecti(;)11lli>y tll@ JllOpular assembly alid the O(l)mmissi01l of tW(;) Iil@l@gates who sha:lll'epresent their constirtu.e11lts before tlle exeC1lti.ve aJld legis~atiVie branches' of the Gov@rnment at Washmg£(i)I1:. The House bill iElr0Viid@s f~n' t11te establisn11l1ent or a g0idi sta;nOiaiJid 0] va[ue in tlle islanlils, to wit, tll@1t1!l1l.@ricall gold dol1lm. It fv.uJrtll(W pJt(i)vides fe)']t the c(f)ma:ge of a Filliipin:(f) p@s@ to contain silv:er 0I valu.@ in g(!)ld (9£ aIDoUlt £01'ty cents 0)' less, aJIld a lllS@ftd aJild P.1'0]!l@t' swbs[di~l;I'Y @@inage.

1fhis coinage is t(l) be limi~@d to th@ geJv@rrunelit only, and the seigJi1rQa'[ 88

J

CONGRESSIONAL ACTION

age is reserved as a md t(i) mamtain the parity of the peso with fiifty 'cents gold. Other means are provided in the act by which the Philippine G'overDIDent is a1ilth.elr]zed to m.aintain the parity. It is hoped by the Commission that recommended this plan, and by ~he Oommittee of the House, that it will II:'>reVient the ifhl.et:uati(i)lls of value du.e to th.e lise of Mexican cmrency, and wiN at the same time furnish a coinage so near to the present coinage as R0,t t(i) ereate aJ distllrbance i1il. 'Vahles or in wages. The Senate)bill does not provide for a legislative assembly or the appointment (i)f the tW(i) delegates, 1Jl.or does it lilI.I:aJI{!e prQv[si(i)1Jl. for a g(i)ld stan[ 89 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

dard. In place uf tkese it d~rects the taking uf a census after peace shall be declared, and the recummendaticHl. by the Oummissiun uf the furm ())f g(i)vemment t(l) "be permalnently establisaed. It pnvides alsO' fur the free coinage uf a FilipinO' dullar uf the size and weight uf the Me'xiQan d(l)ilar, which it is llopeel wi1l becume a well-knuwn QUrn in the cummerce uf the East.

We uf the Cummissiun are very earnest anet sm0ere [J!J: (!)ur 速.(i)pe taat at least tlie pruvisiun fur the electiun of the legislative assembly and uf the twO' delegates cuntained in the H<i)Use "bil shain "be @1ll'il:budied i~ legislaltiun. We think taat the [ 90 ]

FILIPINO REPlRES'E NTATWN

Filli(!lmo JllleopTe wowd accept this provision as the most indubitable evidence of the desire of the U'rnted States that self-governmeE.t should be given to the people iE. as large a measure as they are capable of earrymg it on. Danger from obstructioR of the government by withh@lding supplies is avoided in a secfu.(i)E. 6f tke HONse biN by a provisi6E. that, sl16uld the appropriation bill not De passed, appropri~足 tions equal to th(i)se of the year IDefGl'e sham IDee@1il1e available without legislatioE.. T.Ei.ere are members of the Senate Committee on the Philippines wh6 believe that the step illlivolved in the (i)]'gaE.izati(l)D of a legislative assem.ibly is ,to(i) pro[ 91 ]

crVIL G(JVERNMENT IN THE PHIL1PPINES

gressive and too radicaL In this I think they are mistake]Jj. lit is quite possible that 0n the floor of the legislative assembly will be proclaillned. doctrines at varia:nee with the policy of the United States, and that possibly, by S0me members, sediti0uS and tr'easonaMe speeches may be made; but, on the whole, I feel sure that the people will regard ~he legislative assembly as a welcome methQd by which they can take part in the government, and that there will iJJJe every dispositio)ll on the part of most of the members to w0rk harmoniously with the other branch of the legislative aepartment and with the Executive.

It has been s'Uggested. that possiMy [ 92 ]

FI1..InN<l> RE'PRESENTAm]ON

the leg~lamve assemMy wcndd s(\)ie@t A.guma[do 01' Mahi!l!l:i (ill' s@m@ @tllel' ]ll'@min(\)nt i!lil.sl!U"relilto lea:del' (ill! (!)rgal!l[:1'J(\)r t@ ~'(\)pl'esent ~t at Wash:iNgton. :r d@ !Iil.ot think this is likely; :i;n!l!t evel!l if it were to ihappel!l, I should! ]l.(!)t l'egani) it as a cif~l!lgel'(llUS i'(\)sUilt.

I th.ink it wo:uJ.d be L@U!11(!)J i1hat the [I!Iopular assembly woclll inClllde ma1il:Y Iilonservative rueD w~@ 'W:<ilU!l~ be il!l fav@r of Sl[Pp(ilrtmg Americwl!l s@iVereignty i~ the islaJl!lds 8ind makil!lg the g(i)Ve;rlmne1il:t ~t iIilas ~staIDtish.e~ :arm wnd stahle. A. pr@vlsi(!)n of this kind w(i)U!~d destmy at (i).]llile th.@ suspici@l!lS (i)T Ameri@a]l g(i)@(iJj faitll, and w(i)ul~ ~al'gely satisfy the desire fm' se1t'-g@iViern!EDel!lIUof a]l bll!t !the C(i)m-

r 93 ]

paratively few rrre@(i)'ID.@ilaIDies. A popular assemMy w<i)l;JIld be a great ecill!Icaticn)'al sclaool for the bettel' class (i)f Filipirm.(i)s i[il 8/ct.lila:l g(i)'Verlilment. The weakness of tIm edl!l- • cated FjJ,ipin0s t(j)-cilay is in: their lack of practical lb!l(i)wie(iJ:ge as to h,ow a popular goveril!l!ment (i)'llgnt to 1)e !run. They always res(!)rt to absoilltism in practical pr@Mems (i)f L. I " goverlllm8ll1t. Tl!le ~·estF[dH!).l!lS IIp(i)n the suffrage contained in the l'l!I!llnicipal code, which are by reference m:acile part 0'£ the Ehmse bill, w0ulcil secure a faiFly irm.teLligent body gf representatiVies in tlae p(i)pular assembly. " The resuLt of the p(i)~uhr assembly. ia i7he Hawa~ia'ID. Isiands has [ 94 ]

(

FILIPl.N@ REPRESENTATI@N

been refened t@ a:s a wa:iJ.路mimg a:gainst th.e extemsi@n (!)f SlilaJa }!ll'ivilll@ges ~Jil 1Ike Phi.~ic.pif!>m.es; bll!t it mlilst ~e ut@a that th.e ritifficillty in the Rawai~ailiJ. Is~ali1as res路rute芦 Not s@ !Iil!lJuch :6.ir0Ill1 t7ID:e @sta:ibl~shme]bt of a iJ!l'@iPlilla~' assemhlyas firom th@ uldllre extensi(i)]'jJ. 0f the elea1i@ra:l fi路aJi10hise. In the iPihilli]!>]iri1!les t1re u'anchiise lJias been restricted and. duly gua:rded.

I am Jl@t @li.l!la 't<~ tke ~r(ilU!bles that thle legislative a~semhly w(!)lirld d@ulbtlless b;J!1mg t@ the iE!Kealiltive' a'l!l:d t(!) the C(i)I:l]:]\l])issi@Jil. [l!l Jl@YS[Ilg pU!~Nc disclilssi(!)l!l Qv@r lilJ1!l[mpenrtant ma'ttel'S w:Q.iclh !Il1@W perha:ps pa:ss wit1i\.(l)ut i)!t(i)tiee; lJ1J1t I 31m not at all ~iUire 'fiha:t" suclit ptlMia discllssiem. w(i)ll!lcl' !Ill0t, (!)1!l the wh@le, work for [95 ')

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

the public welfaJl'e. The fact that a v0te of the Commission would be necessary to the enactment of any law is quite a sufficient veto for practi@al ]il1l!r]ilQses.

Shol!lld the legislative assembly featme, which the Federal party has petitioned for, which the Commission has recommended, ancl. which the Oommittee of the House has recommended, be eliminated, it will cause very serious disappointment to the Fil[pino people.

'The agricultural and c(l)mmercia] communities in the Philippines are anxious that the Dingley tariff rates against products of the islands should be red1!lced. The rates are now reduced in faVOlt of Philippine [ 96 ]

TARIFF REDUCTH\lN DESIRABLE

importations twenty-:fiive per cent., but the Oommissi(l)n is convinced that the reduction should be seventy-five per cent., and that with sU(~h a; reducti0Ji1 the c@mm.erce between the Ph.11lippines and the United States will gradually increase to a very large volume. I think: it is rec@gnized by membel's @f COlilgress, ooth in the Senate and in. the House, that this reduction elf twenty-five per cent. is (i)1'lly the beginnmg, and that. the telilde:ncy must :m:ecessal'ily be toward free trade.

We do :not seek absolute free trade, because tariffs should be reciprocal, and an ad valorem duty elf twenty-five per cent. Olil imp(i}rts from 17he United [ 9'7J

CIVIL G0VERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

States t~ the Philip]9ines seems necessary to fur~ish the needed revenues to the islands. We sincm'ely hope that next session will see a fuJrther materia~ red,ucti0]1, and that within a measmably short time at least a seventy-fi'Ve per cent. reduction will be made. What the Filipino people l(l)l!lg f(!)r is expressions of good wiH' ÂŁrom the Americans, and nothing would be more wele-ome than. this invitation to come into the American markets.

The House bill differs from the Senate bill also, in e(mtaining a dec~a'rati(i)n @r bill @f rights in fayor of the Filipin(i) people Ulilder the [ 98 ]

A BILL OF RIGH'll'S

goVel'lilillent !by the biM established.

It secures aJil the rights declared in the bill of rights and the Constitution @f the United States, except the 'riglat t6 bear arms al.!l.d the right of tt'ial by j'tlry. Anyone fllimiliar with Filipino civilization will understand the wisdom of wit1tJi10lding Dr@1il1 the FiliipID.@ people tn.e e:nj6yment (!)f these tw@ privileges. If arms couild be purchased with<mt 'restriction, [adronism in the islands w@rud De widely extelHled, a'ID:d the maimlte:na'lil.ce oflaw and @rder most didiIicuH. The bearing of arms may not be safely enjoyed by the Filipino people until t1te great mass of t1tem shall have acquired more self-restraint than [ 99 ]

CIVIL G,@VERNMENT 1'N 1I"J3jE PJ3j[L~'PPrN, ES

@oa]l !I'lClW De f(!)U!I:ld am(!)1!I!g them; n0r ~aIil the j hl!l'y system be safefy pl!lt in praJeti@e Il(j);~V, eve]1' am(l)J'I)g th(!)se wllo are qu,alriNed to nileo Tke OO1illliI!l!lissi(l)'lll. .has lPl"cwided fem the se1ection Qf tW(l) assessors @f fact to assist tke jl!ldges im1 J,"eaching concll!lSi(!)]ls @]l issues Qf FaJct; hut the great majority of the electmoate, even timnited as :bt i~, are 'lll.(l)t l!lO'W fitted 'to tab part imr the aministratiQI'l! (i)f j-ustice and reaeh eOJ:ilc~tl­ Si0'llS Nee Ewm lPrejl!ld~ce anell bias or danger of corruJlltiono The R@l!lse bill fu.rther declares that a resident of the 1?hilipprne Islands owing a~­ leg!iaJIlce t(l) t.he iITnited: Stattes shall enj(i)Y the same protMtiCll'l WOIn iiEljlilry iby f(i)reig:n g(i)V'er:nments (!l1° [ 100 ]

FRANCH]SES AND LAND GRANTS

in foreign. eOIDltl'ies as citizeIils (l)f the United States. It is wise to spread these declarations of rights in favor of the Filipinos upon the faee e>f the statute which gives them a voice in their own governm@nt, and I am. sure it will have a good @ifect in making them underst~d th@ intention of the Gov@rnment of the Un.ited States.

Both bills empower the legislature of the islands to grant franchises f(i)l' the blili:illld1m.g of c(l)mmercial aIilcil. street raih'(l)ads and for the formation of corporations for other purposes. Be>th bills limit the power (i)ÂŁ aClillil.isitioIil oÂŁ la:nd by a corp(i)l'ati(i)n, f0reign (l)r dom.estic, te') five [ 101 ]

C[VIL G@VERNMJENIT IN THE PHI1..]PPINES

thC>lisana aCi1es. It seeIirilS t(i) me that tfi,is limnitati:@n [s t(i)G [(')w, anI!! that it Oligh.t t@ be }'aiselil t(i) twenty t.b0lisaml!! acres, fOJ! the ];1eaS(i)~ thart, ill. orde'L' t(i) atm'act capital amd t(!) induce agri@ti1t1iJ;al deV'elopmeElt (i):m. the best [mes, especially ilID. the [(H'Gducti0];l (j)f su.gar and tobacc('), tTh.e cuJltivati0:m. IDlist be (l)f estates at least as ~a:rge as :fifteen @r twenty th(j)1iS~a a01'es. This is the size (')[ esta'~es in OUIDa alllid iEIJ tie Sa:m.dwich Islands. Thelte are (J)illy five millions (i)f acres heM IDY llindividl'lals im the isJa'lll.ds, while th.e public la:m.ds probaMy e'XCâ&#x201A;Ź)ea sixty-fi.n mi:l!1i(J):m.s of acres i!Tl l e:xtent. I have Ji1(i) Iiles[re t(i) i1P1'm])1l(l)te such am expioitaticm. (i).f Mil:e islands as wiN [ ]02 ]

FRANCHISES .Mill LAND GRANTS

cel!lter @w,nel'sl!t[p of the interests there in a few individl'lals, but it seems to me that it is most unwise to imp@se such restrictions as are !li!kety either to pre"Yient th.e C(!)l'liling (i)f capital at aN or tQ lead to unlawful and fraudulent evasions of the restrictions. The C(i)st of a modern suga'l!-plal!lt is ~ery heavy, and capita::tists ca'lmot be imlduced to make the investment unless the extent of the laRd to be cultivated by them and the probable productio]l are sufficient til) wa1'ral!lt the necessarily large @utlay. The investment of Ameriean capital in the islands is necessary to then: proper developmelilit, and is necessary to the material, and therefQl'e the spiritual, [ 103 ]

CIVIJi. 6'0VERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

uplifting Qf th@ Filliprn.(!) people. It means the construction elf !railroads, the needed intercommunication between t:h@ peopie and the provinc~s, and a chaRge from a compa:ra:tively poor and ignorant people to one of comparative intellige:m.ce and wealth.

The question is frequently asked why it would not be well to promIse the Filipino people that, w:he:m. they are fitted for complete selfgovernment, they shall be granted independence. In the first place, the Federal party, which furnishes the only organized expression of pu.blic opinio:m. in the islands, does :m.ot ask independence" but seeks rather annexation to the United [ 104 ]

SHALl. WE FROM[sE

rnN"l~EPiENDE'NGE\1

States and pl'(l)spectiV'e Staitehe)(j)d. lID. the seG{i)flildi place, tlltwe is 'lll(')t the siiglltest ]ll'(l)bali>ilIity that tfte Ohrisiian Fi1ipiilil0s will be rea~y rell" self-g(')voerJ.il.iNil@nt in any period Sft@l路t @~ tw(') ~enerati(i);ms. Not ten !pel," Gent. (i)f the pe(')ple s]lea!k Spanis~, and the remai!lilJing [11'lllety !per G~nt. or m(i)J1e a'l"e lilelilsely igmora'lllt, suWel路stiti~)U.s, all.(!i subject t@ impos~tiom (i)f alN s(J)rts. It is aIDs(i)l\iltel~路 lileGeSsary, [iJ!J. ('maer that ~he pe@ple !Io(i) tai\il:ght self-g@v;etnment, that . a i!ill:m, staMe gOV(i)Tnm(i)mt illlcller AmericaN glilfi(ilaMe amd c{i)lil.trol, in which. the FiliprnQ people shall have aJ \V'@i@e, s]nmld be estabiislled.

NobMliJIg hat Sl!lcih:r a g(i);V"e:J," llli1iJIleJitt @an ed'l!l.eate ~1te lEIe(J)ple iil1to a 1rn:@wledge [ 1!O搂 n

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

of what sel'f-governm.eJilt is. Not only by precept hut by practice must the self-restraints essential to self-government and the discretion and ptliblic spirit 0f a Free people A promise to be taught them. give the people independeJilce when they are fitted for it would inevitatU.y"be accepted by the agitators and ,generally by the people as a promise to give them independence within the present generation, and would tllerefore "be misleading, and tile SOID'ee of bitter criticism of the American government within a few years after the promise was given aJild Jil@t performed as it was underst0G>d by tlle peQple. A pr@1iiiJ:ise of independence thus rnterpreted [ 106 ]

SHALL WE PR(i)MJISE

rNl'lEPENiD IENeE~

would destr(i)Y tn€ p@ssibil1ity of the (i)f a stable g(i)V'ernment in. which tlle ]lle(j)J!lle slir0uld be learl.il.ing what selif-g(JVieTnment is, because the 0Qnservative element, with the ass1IDl.e~ e.a rly p:wspect of C0mpl€te imrd'€penduee, w(i)uld fear that wlh:en the islands w€re arban€loned tBc€) wCllerut ag~tat(i)rs w@uld C(i)Nile t@ the fi'ClTht, and lihClse assisting the pJleSe]1;t g0'VerDlil!1€n1t w(i)"tdd be swb-je@ted to the hostility (i)£ tIle demaJg<i>gues om the gr01ilJiIilcl' (i)f their previGUS !ltm€Xi@aJlil sympathies, The @nly F(i)lie~, it seems t@ me, which w[~l ~nslill'€ the establishmlil€nt (i)f a m'm, staMe gOv.el':nment, and the sl\L]lpQrt 0f that g(il\cernTI!lentby th€ edrneated, weaLthy, and c0nservative fOl~1illation

[ ]01 ]

C[VIL G@VER'NMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

Filipim)s, is the declaratic)]ll of a policy in fa V0r 0f the inde:liinite retentiQn C)ÂŁ the is~a:nds unlilelt a gGVermneE.t in which t1ae sftaiJ:e takeN by t:he Filiphla(i) people shall ~e made . gradually te ~nCl'ease and the electorate of the Fi1'ipim) pe(i)ple shall IDe gra<ilu.ally e1il[al'geril. .After this gov-ernment shall he s;uIccessfully estah~;ished, the qU,stion wlaetheJ! the i ~ands shall be annued or shan Be granted indepe:t!ldence, (i)l' slhaill have such a ~'elatien to this C01:mtl'Y as A1'I.stralria or Canada has to Engla'llld, may he very well J!l(i)stpOliled until t,he practical educati<mJ (i)I the pec>pie in self-~0'Vernm:.te1ilt , saaNlaave been sufficient to j1'l.stify the adi(i)ption of eitilaer 0f these trutee [ 1103 ]

SHALL WE PR@MISE lNDEPENDENCEY

cOUTses. The policy of establishililg a firm alild stahle government in which the Filipino people shall take part will doubtless reveal Iililillclil as t@ the wisdom of the @ne (1)1' the other of the COUTses suggested; but it seem.s to me to be V81'y 1iInwise to hind (l)urselves and tlile next generation by an authoritative declaration now as to what wre shaN do fifty: (1)1' a lilundted years lilence. We canut ]tow know what subse<[:tlâ&#x201A;Źmt generations of OUT own }geop1e MY thelil deem wise, or wlilat succeeding genet'atio]ts of Filipinos, benefited by experience in self-govel'nm.e]t~ aiiJ.<l advised of the advantage of association with the United States, will desire. [ 1109 ]

CIVIL G路@VERNMENffi IN 'I1HE PHILIPPINES

The @pp@nents of the AclIDinistrati(m pIDliCY imr the Phil~ppi!l1l.es 010 n@t agree with ID]le anot:her. If r have correctly understoQd $eRator Itawlm.s, @f the minOl'ity of the Senate Oommittee @]l tl!i.e Phru.ippius, in his questiol1s pl!l.t me when befc)]!e the Senate (Jcnnmittee, he believes that the best thing f@F the Ggvernment to d@ is tID h!l'n (i)'V'er t:he isiaIlds to a strong maR wh@ shall rlwai1l1tain absollut~ ~路tl!le O~Em the pe0ple with no popula}' v(i)ice in the go:verrune]lt. His view is tnat in O)'ie]l~al c@11I!]ltries ng @t:heF t:ha'lll the absolute rl!l.le of a stnrIil:g man is p(i)ssiible. lif this be tne true view, tken h(i)pe (j)f seCl1ring indivi@ua:~ l]berty, t@ the pe(j)ple I:)f the 芦uo ]

THE ADMINISIl'EAT10N'S @PP6NEN'llS

PhlJ.ippmes must be aballlil0ned, aIild the poliey 0l th0s€l gelltll'}:m€l1!l who, like SeRator EI!<!lar, entel'tain the ;idea 17hat by [ea;vmg the [s~allds ~t w[;lll ®e Jil(i)ssiiI:Jl€l t@ fGr:m a FilipiiJ16 Re:[!luiliJi[ic in wruCft ail1 the rights (i)f mlilivi~ua!] 1iJO€llity wiffil be seclitl'€ld 'to the Fili,pm(i).s must be given. up.. F;resililellt SJcifumr1!l1l:aIil, after six m(i)Jilths' ohservatl@]1 of the pe@ple, ;reaened 11fte eond'lls!I(!)n ~hat they' wou[d: !I!lot O€l fit f@l" self-g(i)vemmeIilt sh01,t (!)f a geJilera·tio]1 or l@ngel'. He 1iI0W has l'eached the @pmie)l[, ibased (i)1l the rep(!)rts (i)f th€l Jjlpesell!t .U[Olited Siltates F!hili;wpme Oommissi(i)1!l and the (i)IDSeriVations GI G€lIil.eral Ghafifee iffil r€lTIewmg erimmal eases, that he w.as wl'@ng iil!l his j1iH!1gment, aIild [JiH

J

CIVU. G@VERNMENT iN THE 'FHIMPPINIE S

that the Filipill(!) peel]>le win be (;la~able 1:)1 seIÂŁ-govemrnent after six I:)r eigiht yea::rs of American tu.teiage, and this though the genth'lme1!l. llpt>1!l. whose siateme:nts he relies f(i)r his @kange (!r f view agree wiik his former @@1!l.clust@n. ihe the@ry of President Schurman seems to be . that the :llidepeI1rdeue (l)f a glwernm.e1!l.t and the i,1!l.diviÂŽl'lal Hhe1'ty of its sub~ects (!)r 0~tizen! a1'e tke same thing, or at least tBlat the ou is essential to the other.

Th.is, it seem.s t(l) me, mvolves a l'adi(;lal error. Whetker imlepeD!dence will aid in sec1'l..Fmg imlividua:l libeltty depends on the fitness for p0:J!>ular self-goiVernment of the pe(i)ple. If they are ig1!l.(i)r8J1!l.t a1!l.d [ 11:2 ]

THE .A:D1IHNfSTRATHDN'S QPP(!)NEN'llS

eas:iJly led, tlilen. itlaepel!lden~e mean.s l1Ttimately abs@lutism aRa n.(j)t liberty. ',r.m.e indepeRaenee lllli1delt preseIlrt c(m(MicJ:ns ef the P.Thilippine ]sla:n.QS will! mearn tille subjeeti(j)ll a1ilG Jil@t the l1.ib>erty 0ÂŁ tille pe@ple. lit mill: meaIil iintern:ec-me warfa:re aJilQ wrnl'li he f(!lll@iwedl b~ such an absolute g(!l;verllliJiRent as that whie1 8en.3I.t(l)r Rawli;m.s seems t@ think 1>est ifir)]! them.

Tke m~n(!)l!~ty m the lPh::iJlippines C(l)IiB1iI1ittelil in: the Ben.atlil pl'op@se a c(;)llstitUJti(mal C(j)Iilvelltion mthin. a year fr(j)ID the paflsage (i)f the act, ' tlle delegates t(9 whic.m. arlil to he selected 'by <t.m.e Vi(!)tes (!If all the aailllt ma~es (l)f ~.m.1il Are.m.ipelag(l) who ean. read allld iW}'ite. The~'e aI'e the [ U3

il

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

milli0n and a half M0r0s in Mindana0 and the J 010 group, and the million or more of the hill tribesmen. Why, under the theories of the minority, sh(!)Uld. t:he MOl'IDS or hill tl路ibes be subjected to tlae rule of the Ohristian Filipinos, whOm they dislike, and wh(!)se government they w(mld. certainly l'esist?

Tlae Democratic min.ority (i)f the House Oommittee, wilth what seems to me greater judgment, ]ll'oposes the establislament of a g0ver1!lment in w:hi<ilu there s'han be SQme Amel'ican supervision and guidance for six or eight years. 'They expressly recognize the fact that three hun<iLred. years of SpaRish rule hav,;e Mt beeR calculated 拢0 fit the people of [ 114 ]

THE AI:>MINISTIRATION'S OPPONENTS

the Philippme IsIancil.s for sel'fgovernment; but the assumption that six years of a government under American guidance will aceOmJllliisR SUCR a result seems to me only less reasonable than tfte proposal of the Democratic minority in the Senate. No accemnt is taken in .these plans of the pecuJ.iar traits 0f ttle Mcm!> popuJamo]1, (i)f the de]1sity of ignorance oi'ninety pel" cent. of the Ohristian Filipill(i) population, or 0f the utterly Uffilcivilized conditioJil @ÂŁ th.e hill tr-iJbes: The ditlie'\illty that tIDe ())ppOhents of the Acil.miniskation han in finding a common affirmative policy to uphold is an indication (i)ÂŁ the eorrectJiless (i)f the AdmiJilistraticm plaJil, to [ 115 ]

€IVIL GOYERN"MENT IN TiEIlE P1HLIPP1l'"ES

wit: that of th~ establishment Qf a and stable g(i)vermmieE1t !I1QW fe)}' the Oh'l:'istia'l!l Fiiipin0s, witll as Il!ll!l.ch share im the gQV@li'nmeNt as they ca1ll safely ~xeyeis~, without aNY den.nite dedaratio1ll as to what may be <ilone in the i'al.'-distar1llt futUil'e; and separate [0:rms (i)f paternal g(!)vernment fOJ,' the Mor@s and the other nQ]l-(iJhristiaIil tribes.

m'm

T1te :in "urrectio1ll iE1 th.e P1tim,ppines is at a1ll eNd, but tm:e didffiic:u1ties of civil g(!)vet'nm:ent a:Ire IDY 1110 meams eNded. T1te first ~ifffifeulty has already bee1ll alluded iii). It eOl1iJ.sists in the possiMe illadequaey of t1te reY'eNuesoft1te islands tQ meett1te ~xFen­ ses of much-needed w(!)rks (!)f reform [ 116 ]

SALARIES ANi& EFFICI'EN€Y

and improvement in the Archipelago. The eXiJPeJilses of the g<i>vernment are increased by the necessity for the employment of many A.mel·iaans aJild for paying them. adequate compensation. To secure good work in the Philippines from Americans higher salaries must b@ paid than in the United States.

The grave mistake in the Spanish admil1istratiC!"J.:lil 0f file Archipelago was in the paym@ll!t of very low salaries tel their officials, who took this as a jtlsti'ficati(i)ll [0r illegal exactions ft'om the people. It is helped, h(!)wever, that with the expeeted mcrease in Dusiness and cormnel'e@ due to the investment of capitalln th@islands, revenues may [ 1!17 il

OIVIL G0'V'ERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

increase alild permit a propel' @xpansion of govel'nment agencies in the development of the Archipelago.

The second difficulty which confronts the civil government is to be found in the questions which gl'(i)~ (i)tlt (i)f the former relatie>n of the Roman Catholic Church to the Spanish government in the islands.

Under the Spanish rille the property and political interests of the government Wiere so inexb'icably confused with those of the Ohtn'ch that now, when, under the Treaty of Parls, the interests of the Spanish government have heen tran.sferred to the United States, which [ 118 ]

CHUROH AND STATE

lily a law of its lileing canlil0t continue the partNership between Church and State, it is extremely difficult justly to separate the intm'ests of the Church alild the State~ For mstance, there are a number of charitable and educational trusts which, under the Spanish governmelilt, were generally aillninist@red by c[erieal ageDts. S@me 0f these trlilsts were prolilably, purely civil trusts, others w@re probably niligious tmsts, and alil issue of the utmost nicety is ]mesented when decisin must oe given as to which are civil and which are religious trusts, S0 that the one may be admililistered lHlder the Gov;ernment of the United States and the other [ 119 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT iN THE PHILiPPINES

by the Roman. Oatholic Ohurch.

Again, 1lllder the agreement between the Spanish Orown and the Ohu.rch, the government fmnished c('nnFen.sati(!)n for the pl'iests, an.d also agl'eed to aid in the construction of chmches an.d so-called conventos or priests' rectories. So close was the relatioIl! between the Ohmch and the State that it was not thought necessauy to obtain a patent from the government to the bishop of the diocese f(in' the pU!blic land up<m which tke chureh and rectory were built, so that probably a majority of the chmches and rect(i)ries (i)ÂŁ the island (and there are a chill'em and a reet(])l'Y in lllearly every pueblo in tme isla~d) stand [ 120 ]

"

CHU1l;CH kND

ST~TE

upon. what the records show to be plilblic land, and which, as such, passed t(!) 11he Government of th(;) United States under the Treaty of Paris. In such a case, however, it may v(;)TY w(;)ll be Ul'ged that while the legal title is in the Gov(;)r:mment, the eqrutable title is in thB Oatholics Qf tll(;) parish, and that, in accordance with the canonical law, releases should be made by the Governmemt (i)f the United Stat(;)s to the bishop of the diocese ÂŁ@1' the benetit of the Oatholics of the parish. In some puebl<i)s, however, the mU1ilicipalities claim an interest in the c(i)nÂĽentos, and indeed in the churches, @n the ground that they furnished the labor or mate[ lJ2!1! ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

rial with which the 01 urches and rectories were constructed, and in some instances they have attempted to assert an ownership in these buildings. Indeed, it is very hal路d for the common people to understand the principle of the separation of Ohurch. and State, alild much time of the Oivil Goverlilor is taken up in explaining to th.e millilicipal authOl'ities that they have no right as sucll to regulate the conduct of the priests in their chUTches or the fees which they charge. Again, the conventos or rectories have furnished the most convenient hou.ses for occl!l.pation. by the American soldiers fll!ITing the guerril[a w3a. fa:re, and in som.e instances, too, churches [ 122 ]

CHURCH AND STATE

have ibeen occlllpied as banacks.

The questiem 11laturally arises whether rental is not due from the United States for such occupatioll @jj C'll}ilil.lfCn [()}'(!);pel'ty, a'Uld what the reas@llabie rental shall IDe. This question is complicated with another, and that is whether the fact l1ha't the priests may have aided alld abetted the inslllrgents, a'Uld may ~ave hail many' insurgents amollg their parishioners, may not disen.title the parishes to a recovery (j)f reas(l>llaMe relltal. If aJ rental is due, it [S important that it should be promptly paid, because the war has, @f C@Ul'se" much reduced the SOUl'ce of me0IDe f(i)l' the Church and imllaired its llsefu.lness in affordillg [ 123 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

opportunities for religious wors1tip to the people.

The f(!lUr ordel's (i)f friars, the D(i)minicaRs, the AugustiniaRs, t1te Rec01etos, ancl. the Franciscans, al! of them Spaniards (for natives are not admitted to the orcl.ers), were the parish priests alIilong the Cru'istian Filipino people, and these 01'del's, except the Francisca:ns, became the owners, through pUTchase and ot1terwise, of fOUT 1tumuwed thousand 'acres of ag~'icuJ!tlli'allaRd, two hundred and fifty thousand of which are sittlated near the city of Manila:, and include some 0f the richest lant!l im. the islaRcl.s. 'f1te better lands lie iR the populous [ il24 ]

THE FRURS AND THEIR :LANDS

provinces of Oavite, Laguna, Bulacan, old Man;iJa (now Rizal), and Oebu. O,ru.e hUiJldted and twentyfive thousand acres lie in the province of 0avite, aRm. it is signIDca'li1t that @f the three revolm.tio:ns against Spam (if that of 1870 can be called a iL1ev@hltiOI!I!), all "began in t.his flrovruM, showing that t.he agrarian question of the ownership (j)f thes_e lands by the n,.ia~s, whiiLe it was ut the only issue, .hard much to do with the dissatisfaction which led t@ the arm.ed resistance t(j) S]lIanish authority. Oivil government has now been completely established in Jamacan, @ld Malll:iila or Rizal, Oavite, and Oebu, and soon will be established in Laguna. The title [:125 ]

CIVU,

GOV-ERN~!ENT [N ~R!E

PHIl11!PFH'lES

(i)f th@ :rutiars it(') these laNds is, f:t'(j)l!lil. a; legal stalllrli[p(!)mt, g(!)0d, lndeea, there is ])l!(!)!baMy lil@ better title i1i1 the Islands, Si[)'Qe 1896 no l!ents .have ibeen Q0TIect@d, and the formelt tenants Nave enj(!)yed the [a1llÂŤs without pri0e, SID far as t.bre condriti(i)]ilS 0] Wall' permilttea, W.bren J:il(i)W t.he friars snail call ~po'l!l the cntdililary CCH1'l!tS (i)l jl'l.stice, as they .have the ri.ght t@ OO(i), ei~.h@r t@ Q(i)flect th~ rents D'om t.fu.@ir tema])1ts (i)l' tG restGre t.hem. to t1b:e }1l(i)ssess!iQ:ID! (i)f their laiJ!lds, the ]>l'(j)cess of tlJre QÂŤHJ'l't and the i>(;)wer of the g(i)ve:Jt!l!l!men't ml.!ls,t IDe e%erted t;@ eMorc@ t.he jl.!ldgment whirch the prG(i)f (i)f s~eih facts will require, 1:\;) alil !ignoralilt :J!l@(i)pIe., [hH~stile tQ the n:ial's, this d [ il:26 ]

THE FRIARS AND 'JlHEIR LANDS

put the G(l)Vel'lilIDellt of the United States in the attitude of supporting the ÂŁria~'s, and of siding witl1 tl1em in the controversy out of which grew the revolution against Spain, and tl1ere [S every indicatio1l. that riot and distmbance will follow allY effort by the Government to aid the friars in the asserticm of their property; rights. It has been thought by the Oommission to be the wisest l)(!lNCY, and one just t(l) aU int81'ests, for the GovernIil(imt to purchase these la1l.ds fr(i)J,1l. tke frial's, paJyi:mg them a reasoRaibie price therefor.

B0th the limtlse a1l.1i1 the Senate bills make pr6v[sion for such purchase.

A somewhat perplexing compli[ 127

J

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

cation has arise111 roy the transfer 0f the title of the lands by the ft'iars to promoting companies or individuals for the plITpose of their sale or cNiltivation, bwt it is ll1lderst@@d that the friars have thus far retamed a controlling interest in each corporation taking the lands, and th~t they may, if they desire, seli the ~al'lds to the Government.

Again, under the Spanish rule in the Philippines the friars discharged most impo:rrtant civil fmrctlons.

Great credit is due to the religious orders for the work which they did in Ohristianizing the Archipelago and [111 bringing aliHmt the civilization which to-day exists in the isl[ 128 ]

THE FRIARS AND THE PEOPLE

al1ds, bUit in the last ..half-eel1tury the Spanish gover1illlent, appare:ntly with(mt objection by the friars, imposed upon them. extensive civil dlilties in connection with 1il!lill1icipal and pr<:rvincial ggvernments, Ullltil substantially aN the political power exercised in municipal governments beQame absorbed by the :friars. The fiI,.~al' pl'iest in eari.lli. parish became the c~ief of pollee and the chief of detectives in government work.

Every man who was punished, especially if he we~e p1lt1i1ished for a po1itieal offe:nse, cifiarged it -i(i) the agency 0:ÂŁ the friar, and the deportations and executions which went on under Spanish rule We1'e all laid at th~ a(i)01' of the reiigious orders. ["129 ]

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

To the people of the pueblos the friar was the crown of Spai!l'l, and (;)very oppression by the Spanish government was traced by them to the men whose p@litical p0wer had far outgrown that exercised by them as priests. When the revolution came, the'ref0re, d(;)ep :hostility was manifested by the insUl"gents against the friars. They had to flee for thei~· lives.

Fifty. of them were killed and three hoodred of them were imprisoned, and. during their imprisnm.ent were subjected to the most humiliating indignities and to the greatest suffering. Th€l feeling of the peQ]llle against the friars was wholly political. The people weTe generally good. Oatholics and en[ 130 ]

THE FRIARS AND THE PEOPLE

joyed and wished for the sam'aments of their Ohurch, With a population such as that of the O.lli'istian Filip1n(,)s, with. Iilinety per cent. so densely igIil(i)rant, speaking eigh.t or ten different languages, it is hardly possible t(!) say that there is any publie opinion such as we U!llderstand it; but to this general remark must be made the exception that there is a universal populal' h.atred of the four religious orders which have been under mscussion. It is entirely aside fr{J)1!l1 the point t(i) <[uesti{J)n the justice of this feeling. It exists and must be redroned with by those who are ~hlltrged with tlile iresp(i)l!lsibility of carrying on civil government in the islands. The friars [ lei!. ]

CIVIL G0VERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

were dJ,'iven @ut of aU the pa:rislaes in the Archipelag(j) except those of the city of Manila, where the Amer- . ican forces have always been. A few 0f their number fta'Ve returned to OeM., to Vigan, a.nd to Tugl'Iegarao in the province of Oagayan, but the great body of them still remain in Manila and are Ulilable to r~t1ll'n t(i) the parishes because of the expressed hatred of the people. It they should attempt t@ return in any numbers, it is quite likely that the res,l!l1t would @e disturba.nce and rioi.

Such religi0us worship as is now carried on in the parishes is e@li1Gtlcted by native priests wh(!) were [ 132 ]

SHALL THE FRIARS R!I!lTURN7

i!lil t:he 8paF1is:h times the assistants or deputies 0f the friars. There are n@t enou.gh 0f these priests to supply the neeas of all t:he parishes, even i[ they were entirely satisfMtory to t:he Gfuul'ch; and the necessity in the interest of the Ohurch of furnishing additional priests is, I t:hillk, ['ec(9gn:izea in the islands. T:he dJifliicruty w:hi:cn the Ohm.'ch :has in finding competent priests that a'l.'e available for service in the islam:as must be adm~tte&.

Of cC>lIDI!se it w@ruC!1 Meora wi,th tlae views of the A:m:erican,s if American Oath(i)lic priests clmld be sent t@ tlae islands, becalUse their high stai)[lila'l'(!} and then' kll(i)wledge of h.ow a Chtl!l'ch may tm'ive ancJi [ 133 ]

CIVIL GO'V ERNMENT

~N

'lIiE1E

PHILiPP~NES

gain strength under ~ government in which Ohurch and State are entirely separate w([mJ<l assist mu€,h in establishing the new order of things with the people. But it is said that there is no supply of American Oatholic priests which can £11 this <lernan<l.

The question which is presented to tile civil government of the islands i~ whether thel·e is not some means of avoiding the lawlessness and riot which the £t·iars' return to their parishes is certain to involve.

Of course the €'ivil government :has nothing to do with the ministrations of religion (\)1' wi,t h the pers@JiIililel @f the agents selected by the Ohurch to C0lil<luCt its worship, so lOlilg as [ 134 ]

SHALL T'IIE F:RlARS RETilJRNY

they 3J'1.'e law-atbilffiirrg and d(i) n(i)t preac.h tTea;;(i)n:a:IDle d(i)eb'~ne; but it ea:nililot l)'Iil:t giVie ;the greatest C(i)1ilcem t(i) it.he c~vJJ. g(i)'V('U'1ilIDent if III Chm'@!h sifu.a1il. aa.(i).p t the Jilolicy of sendiililg am(i)ng tne ]Ieople priests wll.(i)se very pl'eSe1ilee is S1'1re tGl i1l1wolve a.astul'lJia:m.ee of [a:w aNd (i)rdeJr. W'itth aJ j!?e(i):ple so igurant aJlia laviJrng a knowledge oruy, of SJila:nish meth6ds (i)f g(!)V'er!l1lml!le'lilot, the retU!1.'l'1 (!Jf the Friars win l)l(t}eessarily be regard.edl as â&#x201A;Źt~e to a1il afiITmative Jilolley on tie part of the gover]1me1J1t, and the b1ll'de1l1 of h(i)stllity whick the frial's ROW bear -wiN 1ilecessaJriily liJe shared 01' the gGmmlil.me]1t. ]iJi Hhe iflliilliehase of tke la'lJ.ds of the Fr~aJ~'s and tke adjustment (i)f [ 1:35 J

GIVIL G@VERNM·E NT ]N THE FH,[L.f,PPlNES

aN t1e «)1\1e1' <']j'Uestions a~'ising @etween tllie O1l'1M'(ilfu. a;;nd th.e Stailie sfto'hllld inciill~e a with.da'awal @I th.e fJriaJl!s i'(l)ID the isla'l!101is, ~t wouM grea:tiy facil~t3Jte the hammH'):l1lJY ih>etween th.e g@'V'er1il:meli1t and th.e people and beilween: th.e Ch.ulJ!ch and the S,tate.

I h.ave stated some of ilhe J!>l,'i1iIQipal fiJ.uestioTls aFisri.iI'l~ between the €Jh1m'c'1l1 and the State fem the !l?lli'p(i)se 0] gn0Wm.g the great adyantaJge which wihl ih>€l attai'lited sh.Q)ldd these differences be settled @y amrQaih>le adjugtme1'lt IDetween tlile Ohl.i\!IJ'Q]rn and the State. ~[l1): s1i.l:(illil a matter, were we dealIDg wi£1w a sewlal' QOl'p01'ati@D, it wo:t1l<!l seem [ 136 ]

NEGOTIATWNS W1TH THE iVATLCAN

a wiser pe'1icy and a m0re h@rical1l and dire@'t metlh.c)([ @'E doing IDl!lsmeSS t(i) deal wiill1 il!h.e dhief au.tiunity iIil th.e CQ1']1>(i)rat1(i)];l! !l'ather than wibh S0me age1!l!t illamg lmrt lim.ited iP@wel'S. ih.e AÂŽmmisb'ati(i)ll has CQ]lctuded that ,the advamtag@ @f thtl d,jnct met1i@a a]ld the p@ss,iibi1ity ,@f stlttling thtl <ilii1JfereIil~es ami(;lauly w,i;jjbJ the Church bys'Ilch. a m.ethod warrant it [11I l'l!l!B.!Jlfru,g ~he ;risk of the liln:jtlS-t ~riticisIilil:) that S'1!lch riJ.eg@tiatrommv(i)lwes the estaiIDi.is'hment of ~1-pi(i)matic reiati@ns with. the Vaiii(;lan, ar1ll.fl a: dtlpal',tlllrtl 'fi'(i)1!liIJ the tl'adi~~0J1lS (i)'f (i)lW G(]}vtllt1ll1l1ltl1iJJt ~11l this . l'ega:l'([. bstea<il of meiTlg a deJ!larttl!re ÂŁitem su.~h tl'a:diti(i)lls, Slilcn a 11leg<9tiati@11l seems t.0 ifutl a11l iRdisP3i7J

crVIL GOVERNMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES

pensable C01illilitiOJ:il precede111t to the proper separatio]l Qf the interests of OhUl'ch and State in the Philippines. The unusual circl!lIDstanee of a tl'ansfer of s(i)wereigN:ty, fu'(i)ID. a government whose interests were almost indissolubly united to the OhUl'ch, to a gOiVer11lille]lt wh(!)se inter~sts }]lust IDe kept se]l>al'ate fl'{1un the ChUl'ch., is what makes the proposed negotiation necessary. It is true tnat some of the questions might The settled by litigatiG)J'l, but a jm.dicial settlement (i)f th.e:m wiilil. involve long delay, conseque]lt irritation, and possible charges of partia1ityagainst the COU1'ts which. are finrully caNed UP(i)R t(!) decide the cemtni)versies. Is it not wiser, if [ 138 ]

it he iJll@ssii@1e, t@ sen1Jle ail[ tlle qu.es1Yioms by a ftiellldll:ymrra:ngememt, and ulll!l.s assist ÂŽ@th: tihre State and the fJllt'1ill'0ifu. m ~h:e llllililrs'\illit 0] them pr(!)per ams [(!)r the IDement and up1Jiilltj,]i1g @ÂŁ the Fl1lj,pm@ pe0!(!>le? It is p@ss~IDle ~hat the meWis e>f the Aoi1ilrlstratioli and the views @] the C!lihw0b: aurt.\lu!l1'i1lles may !be s@iW'i&ely aillfeJ.;e:nt as to t1il.e proilPer 00ln'Se t.o pl!l!rs'1!re that o'thel' meth0G.s @l settlemem.t mlll!st ID.e f0U!1i1.<iI:, ~1]IU it is lloped tlQat tliie great C@mID@Jil [Jil,rtm'est wihi0ihr !t1le 01l:U!l1eifu. ana tb.e State haVie iml J;ea:clhiiiJllg a settleme]lu wiN lead t@ s1l0h c(!)J'il:cess[@:ns @Jj]j eae1l silile as willi !I;fIl}ake it ifi)(ilssi:@le. Ike wise and ellillliightened ~tatesma:nship witi0h [has 0ifu,wracterized the 1@!lIlg [ 139 ]

crVlI!, G<!lVERNMENT IN THE PHII1\[PPINES

and pr(i)s]l)(jlro)l!ls ij!l@mtimca,te (irf iLe(!)

XUI. fw.t'iIll!isihes ju.st gJ!1@"lmd f(i)l'this hope.

A dilliicullty wibrGh llilay p@ssiMy COJilD!(!)Jilt t1n:e FhiliJilpme G(i)vel'runeIilt is tllre Su.C0ess (!)f th.e iDe1il1@@'1'atie ~arty rn the next @lirngressional electio:ns. This will: be taken ill the Phillipp'ines ,as aJil inillieati@Jil that at the end ofI the present AlilmiJil'llstraticm t1h.e pe>]icy OF the United States will be eha:nged ara:a the islands will be aba:i[ild@Re~ iJliy the U:nited States aNd ~Ihl':m.ed (!)ver t(i) a ~@¥erJ1l.!i:1il(mt to be estab:tisned by the [Fegple @f the isla]H!I~ bht@U!gh the ea1iling (!)£ a c@:nstitl!l!tiQ]):al C01il.veli1!ti(])l!1. The Jilrospeet of s1I(~h a [ 140 ]

chaJilge will, na짜e a teml.elilcy t(l) ]latl'alyze the uergy (!)f tibte (ilOl!lservativ.e element (l)f the Filli.pN;J.(i) pe@]Jle wli@ a1'e lil@W assisting us in th.e ma:mneNallilCe (i)l aJ civil. g(!)\rell1illlent il!l t1te is[amds. ad alII will De suspel!lse a'ID.G. aJgitatiolil, This di'liEcuilty, h.@we:ver, IS iil!lJihel1eRt i6Jl th.e g@iVernmnnt of depel!ldel1lt p@ssesSl(i)ns by a Repu;li>1ic iLike (i)l!l!l' @W:[il w!hueVier the cMef lllP>1[tic~] isslil.e Deuween 'the lllamties is the Jilolicy t(:) De pll'Eg~e<!1! with respect to sU(ilh deJgendelilcies. I Vientwre t@ 'think, h0wevel~, ~'bra:t s:ID.@lil.td the :RepllblicaD pa~'ty!be slil.ccessfu!l in the O(i)l!1gl'egsi01ila~ eleetl:(!)Jils ililext folllowing aJild ~1iL the :next iNati~)]!lal electi(m, srnflliciel!lit !li'1'0gress wiilll be made ill. [ if4iJ

CFVIL G<'lV,ERNlMlENT l'N THE P1HLIPPINES

the s01uti0]} (i)f the pr0li>lem of the P.h,ilippin.e Goverlilmelil.;t ~o mSl!Bte t.he rem(i)val @f t.he maw isslile ÂŁ1'@Nl practical p@1l:tics t1il:eTeafter.

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